Delhi air quality enters severe category as AQI exceeds 400
The national capital recorded an average air quality index of 403 on Friday morning, the worst grade on the government scale this season.
Delhi's air quality plunged into the severe category on Friday morning, with the average air quality index (AQI) recorded at 403. According to reports from BusinessLine, Rediff, and Hindustan Times, the city's air quality was 82 points higher than the previous 24 hours. This marks the first time this season that the air has reached the severe grade, which covers an AQI between 401 and 500.
IIT Delhi recorded the highest pollution levels with an AQI of 488. Other areas in the severe category included Chandni Chowk at 479, the north campus of Delhi University at 478, Pusa at 468, and Jawaharlal Nehru University at 451. At 8 am, 33 out of 58 monitoring stations recorded an AQI of 400 or higher.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas had previously invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on November 6. Under Stage III, restrictions include bans on certain dust-generating construction, the closure of stone crushers and mining, and curbs on the movement of specific vehicles, such as BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel light motor vehicles in Delhi.
An anti-pollution activist alleged that the CAQM is a "toothless tiger," claiming that traffic conditions indicate a lack of implementation regarding work-from-home directions and heavy vehicle movement. The city's PM2.5 concentration had more than doubled in 24 hours to 244 micrograms per cubic metre by 6 pm on Thursday, which is four times the national standard.
