Smog blankets Delhi as air quality drops to ‘very poor’, GRAP Stage II enforced

A thick layer of smog blanketed Delhi on Tuesday morning as the city’s air quality declined to the ‘very poor’ category, with 27 monitoring stations registering in the red zone, according to the Central Pollution Control Board.

At 9 a.m. on Tuesday, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 317.

The worsening air quality triggered the enforcement of Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which includes a ban on the use of coal and firewood, such as tandoors in hotels, restaurants, and open eateries, as well as the use of diesel generator sets, except for emergency and essential services.

Several areas, including Mundka, Bawana, Wazirpur, Jahangirpuri, Anand Vihar, Alipur, Ashok Vihar, Aya Nagar, Burari, Dwarka, and Mandir Marg, saw air quality drop into the ‘very poor’ category.

Amidst the pollution issue, Delhi recorded a minimum temperature of 20.4 degrees Celsius, which is two degrees above normal. The humidity level stood at 93 per cent at 8:30 AM, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The weather forecast predicts clear skies for the day, with the maximum temperature expected to reach around 35 degrees Celsius.

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An AQI reading between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.

(With inputs from PTI)