Delhi residents woke up on Thursday, November 14, to a severe drop in air quality, with dense fog reducing visibility across the National Capital Region. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi reached a season-high “severe” level on Wednesday, marking the capital’s worst air quality reading this season. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) attributed this spike to an “unprecedentedly dense” fog, describing the pollution as an “episodic event.”
As of 5 a.m. Thursday, Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 473, classified as ‘severe plus,’ while other areas, including Aya Nagar, Ashok Vihar, and Wazirpur, reported AQI levels exceeding 400. Despite the deteriorating air, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has opted not to enforce Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which would involve suspending primary school classes and halting construction activities.
Data from the CPCB highlighted a worsening trend, with the AQI escalating from 418 at 4 p.m. to 454 by 9 p.m. on Wednesday. According to CAQM guidelines, GRAP Stage 4, which includes additional restrictions, is triggered if the 24-hour average AQI surpasses the “severe plus” threshold.
Delhi’s average AQI, measured daily at 4 p.m., stood at 418, up significantly from 334 the previous day. The CAQM has forecasted an improvement in air quality due to stronger winds, which may bring the AQI back to the “very poor” category later on Thursday.
In a post on X, the CAQM indicated that it is monitoring the situation closely and will reassess conditions before implementing Stage 3 of GRAP. Another post attributed the sharp rise in AQI to the trapping of pollutants due to the season’s first dense fog and the lowest daytime temperature, with Safdarjung’s temperature dropping from 32.8°C on Tuesday to 27.8°C on Wednesday.
Delhi’s poor air quality also overshadowed other cities, with Bihar’s Hajipur reporting the second-highest AQI at 417. Out of Delhi’s 36 air monitoring stations, 30 recorded severe pollution levels on Wednesday.
The AQI scale classifies air quality from ‘good’ (0-50) to ‘severe plus’ (above 450). This is Delhi’s first severe air quality event since January, which saw AQI levels peak at 447.
If air quality remains in the severe category, authorities may impose additional restrictions under GRAP Stage 3, potentially banning construction activities and restricting certain vehicle categories.
