The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi: Delhi continued to face a severe air pollution crisis on Tuesday, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 397 at 7 am, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category. This marked a marginal improvement from Monday morning, when the AQI stood at 418 in the ‘severe’ range, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Several areas across the capital reported dangerously high pollution levels. Wazirpur recorded an AQI of 446, while Anand Vihar and Ashok Vihar both stood at 444. Other hotspots included Punjabi Bagh (437), RK Puram (421), Bawana (418), ITO (414), Chandni Chowk (412) and Dwarka Sector 8 (412), all falling under the ‘severe’ category and posing serious health risks.
As per AQI standards, readings between 401 and 500 are classified as ‘severe’, while 301–400 are considered ‘very poor’.
Compounding the situation, dense fog and cold wave conditions further reduced visibility across the city. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported dense fog in the early morning hours, with temperatures around 8.2 degrees Celsius at 7 am.
In view of the hazardous conditions, authorities have advised residents to avoid outdoor activities, adhere to health advisories, and take necessary precautions. Meanwhile, rehearsals for the upcoming 77th Republic Day parade continue at Kartavya Path.
To address the worsening air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has reimposed Stage-IV measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). However, the Commission has flagged “serious deficiencies” in the implementation of Stage-III and Stage-IV measures.
A review of reports submitted by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) and State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) revealed significant gaps in compliance, with shortfalls ranging from 7 per cent to as high as 99.6 per cent across various mandated actions. The GRAP Monitoring Control Room continues to track daily compliance as authorities struggle to curb the ongoing pollution crisis.
