New Delhi:

A blanket of smog continued to envelop Delhi and NCR on Thursday as the air quality remained in the ‘poor’ category, reducing visibility in several parts.

According to the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded in Delhi was 379, categorised as ‘very poor’, as of 8 am. The Air Quality Index remains in the ‘severe’ category in Anand Vihar at 405, Ashok Vihar at 414, Bawana at 418, Dwarka Sector-8 at 401, Mundka at 413 and Wazirpur at 436.

The AQI measured at Chandni Chowk is 338, IGI Airport (T3) is 370, ITO is 355, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium is 354, RK Puram is 387, Okhla Phase 2 is 370, Patparganj is 381, Sonia Vihar is 394 and Aya Nagar is 359, categorized as ‘very poor’.

Some flights were delayed since morning, as per FlightRadar24, while ANI reported several trains either getting late or rescheduled.

#WATCH | A layer of haze covers the Barapulla area in Delhi. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality in the area remains in ‘Severe’ category.

(Drone visuals shot at 8.10 am) pic.twitter.com/CJaVOAr77Y

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2024

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), imposing restrictions like bans on truck entry and a halt to public construction projects. The Delhi government announced that all government offices functioning under the Delhi Government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi will operate with 50 per cent of the staff strength and the remaining 50 per cent of staff will work from home.

Further, a per revised GRAP guidelines, it will now be mandatory for NCR states to discontinue physical classes up to Class V under GRAP Stage III and up to Class XII under GRAP Stage IV. Under GRAP Stage IV, a “mask advisory” has been introduced, urging individuals to wear masks when stepping outdoors during periods of hazardous air quality. The revisions come even as the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast moderate to dense fog over Delhi-NCR in the coming days, potentially exacerbating the pollution crisis.

Earlier on Wednesday, Delhi Police directed social media and e-commerce platforms to immediately cease the online sale and delivery of firecrackers within the National Capital Territory (NCT) amid rising air pollution levels.

#WATCH | A layer of haze covers the JLN (Jawaharlal Nehru) Stadium in Delhi. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the air quality in the area remains in ‘Very Poor’ category.

(Drone visuals shot at 8.10 am) pic.twitter.com/Xt2zOgkpOw

— ANI (@ANI) November 21, 2024

Meanwhile, toxic foam was seen floating on the Yamuna River in Kalindi Kunj and Okhla Barrage. Visuals also showed fog covering the Taj Mahal amid ‘moderate’ air quality in Agra.

An AQI is considered “poor” between ‘200 and 300’, “very poor” at ‘301 and 400’, “severe” at ‘401-450,” and 450 and above is “severe plus.”

With inputs from agencies

New Delhi:

A dense layer of smog enveloped Delhi and surrounding regions of Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad on Wednesday morning.

Delhi’s air quality index was in the ‘Severe’ category breaching the 400 mark, while that of Gurugram, Noida and Ghaziabad was in the ‘Poor’ category. Faridabad’s AQI, at 188, was ‘Moderate’.

Visibility was poor as the AQI entered the ‘Severe’ category after remaining in the ‘Very Poor’ category for two weeks in Delhi.

VIDEO | Dense #smog cover in parts of Delhi. Visuals from Akshardham area.#DelhiWeather#DelhiPollution

(Full video available on PTI Videos – https://t.co/n147TvrpG7) pic.twitter.com/nTRkp0W95m

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) November 13, 2024

The second stage of Graded Response Action Plan remains in force in the national capital, which entails mechanical sweeping and water sprinkling on identified roads, and implementation of dust control measures at construction and demolition sites.

Air quality remained a concern all over the Indo-Gangetic Plains, with three Bihar cities, two Haryana cities and Chandigarh featuring among the top 10 polluted places in the country on Wednesday.

#WATCH | Delhi continues to be covered in a blanket of smog in the mornings as the air quality in the city remains in ‘Very Poor’ category as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

(Visuals from Azadpur Mandi) pic.twitter.com/h9CR1CtRZO

— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2024

The situation is alarming in neighbouring Pakistan, where United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has warned about the health risks to 11 million children in Pakistan’s eastern Punjab province due to worsening air pollution.

An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, 401 and 450 ‘severe’ and above 450 ‘severe plus’.

New Delhi:

At the cusp of winter season, a thin layer of smog engulfed Delhi and surrounding areas on Saturday, even as the air quality plummeted to the ‘Poor’ category.

While Delhi Air Quality Index stood at 273, Ghaziabad was at 246 and Noida at 228 at 8.20 am. In Delhi, the highest AQI was at the Akshardham and Anand Vihar area at 334 categorized as ‘Very Poor’, followed by AQI of 253 at AIIMS and surrounding areas, news agency ANI reported. At India Gate, the AQI dropped to 251, categorized as ‘Poor’.

Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday held an emergency meeting with all concerned officials regarding the issue of pollution. Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the air quality is deteriorating as winter approaches the national capital. The Minister said the concerned authorities have been instructed to find out the local sources behind the deteriorating air quality.

#WATCH | Delhi: A layer of fog engulfs India Gate and surrounding areas as the AQI drops to 251, categorised as ‘Poor’. pic.twitter.com/GRK11QlHMF

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2024

“Winter is coming and the level of air pollution is increasing. The level has reached the poor category in Delhi. There are 13 hotspots in Delhi where AQI has crossed 300- Wazirpur, Mundka, Rohini, Jahangirpuri, Anand Vihar, Dwarka Sector-8, Bawana, Narela, Vivek Vihar, Okhla Phase 2, Punjabi Bagh, Ashok Vihar and RK Puram. The AQI level was highest in Wazirpur,” Mr Rai said in a press conference.

Mr Rai also hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party’s criticism of the Aam Aadmi Party’s handling of the air pollution in Delhi. He said that the opposition has no right to comment on this as the BJP government is sleeping in UP, Haryana, Rajasthan and at the Centre.

#WATCH | Delhi: A layer of smog engulfs the Akshardham and the surrounding areas as the AQI in the area rises to 334, categorised as ‘Very Poor’ as per the Central Pollution Control Board pic.twitter.com/1EovJit5Wc

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2024

Adding to concerns over pollution in Delhi-NCR was the toxic foam was seen blanketing the Yamuna river. The pungent foam contains high levels of ammonia and phosphates, posing serious health risks, including respiratory and skin problems, environmental experts told news agency PTI. They said the pollution levels in the river are alarming and urged the government to tackle it on a war footing because major festivals like Chhath Puja are approaching.

#WATCH | Delhi: Toxic foam seen floating on the Yamuna River as pollution level in the river rises. Drone visuals from Kalindi Kunj. pic.twitter.com/1kLjlYZn3Z

— ANI (@ANI) October 19, 2024

Currently, Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been implemented in Delhi-NCR to tackle rising air pollution.