Delhi air quality enters severe category as smog covers capital
The Air Quality Index in Delhi reached 403 on Friday morning, marking a shift into the worst grade on the pollution scale.
Delhi's air quality deteriorated into the severe category on Friday morning, with a thick haze of smog reducing visibility across the capital. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shared by Scroll and India Today, the average Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 403 at approximately 8:05 am.
The pollution levels showed a sharp increase from Thursday, when the city recorded an average AQI of 323. At several monitoring stations, the AQI exceeded 450. The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi recorded some of the highest levels, with readings between 487 and 488.
Other areas reporting high pollution included Chandni Chowk and North Campus at 476, Pusa at 468, and Jaffarpur at 461. In north Delhi, Samaypur and Rameshwar Nagar, as well as southern Delhi's Railway Colony, saw AQI levels above 800, according to AQI.in.
In the National Capital Region, Noida recorded an AQI of 474 at 8:05 am, while Ghaziabad and Gurugram recorded 377 and 349 respectively. The India Meteorological Department has forecast that Delhi's AQI is likely to remain between the very poor and severe categories until November 16.
Following the deterioration, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had previously invoked Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). In Gautam Buddh Nagar, District Magistrate Medha Roopam has directed officials to strictly enforce the ban on construction, demolition, stone crushing, and mining activities.
