Air quality in Delhi plunged to “severe” levels on Thursday as a thick blanket of smog shrouded the city, prompting authorities to impose emergency pollution control measures under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
According to the government’s Air Quality Early Warning System, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 409, while private monitoring agency AQI.in reported a reading of 644. Visuals from across the city showed buildings and roads barely visible through the dense haze.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed the implementation of GRAP Stage III restrictions across Delhi and its surrounding regions. In response, the Delhi government ordered schools up to Class V to close and instructed higher classes to shift to hybrid learning modes.
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Particulate matter (PM2.5) levels were recorded at 398 micrograms per cubic metre—about 26 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended limit of 15 µg/m³. AQI.in estimated that breathing Delhi’s air on Thursday was equivalent to smoking nearly 14 cigarettes a day.
Stubble burning in neighbouring states continued to exacerbate the crisis. Satellite data showed 312 farm fires in Punjab, 72 in Haryana, and 322 in Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. The Decision Support System (DSS) estimated that stubble burning accounted for around 10% of Delhi’s PM2.5 levels, while transport emissions contributed about 19%.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) classifies air quality between 401 and 500 as “severe,” indicating potential respiratory impacts even on healthy individuals.
Delhi recorded a temperature of 19 degrees Celsius and humidity of 18% on Thursday. Health experts advised residents to limit outdoor activities, wear N95 masks, and use indoor air purifiers to reduce exposure to harmful pollutants.
