As the air quality in Delhi-NCR worsened, the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached "Severe" levels on Wednesday, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to re-impose Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) from Thursday.
Delhi’s AQI, which was recorded at 276 on Tuesday, surged to 365 on Thursday, crossing into the "Severe" category due to smog and slow wind speeds.
Air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR) was similarly poor, with Uttar Pradesh's Noida recording an AQI of 317, falling into the "Very Poor" category. Ghaziabad reported an AQI of 271, categorized as "Poor," while Haryana’s Faridabad saw a "Poor" AQI of 279. Gurugram recorded a "Very Poor" AQI of 310.
With fluctuating air quality and mild weather conditions, Delhiites and NCR residents are urged to stay vigilant about both pollution levels and the cooler mornings and nights.
The weather is transitioning from winter to milder temperatures, with daytime highs now ranging from 20°C to 24°C, while nighttime temperatures remain cooler, between 12°C and 14°C. The coming days are expected to see the gradual fading of the cold spell, but air quality will continue to be a concern for Delhi-NCR.
Under the GRAP-3 measures, construction and demolition activities will be halted, non-essential mining activities suspended, and restrictions will be imposed on non-electric, non-CNG, and non-BS-VI diesel interstate buses. Schools are advised to close for classes up to 5th grade in Delhi-NCR.
Additionally, a ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers will be enforced, and commercial vehicles will be prohibited from entering Delhi.
The official notice also mentioned that actions under Stage I, II, and III will be monitored and reviewed to prevent further deterioration of air quality.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Delhi-NCR may experience mild rain in early February, which is expected to improve air quality and result in a slight drop in temperature, easing concerns of an early summer.
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