World · India Bureau
Delhi-NCR tightens curbs as air quality plummets to severe levels
Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan has been activated across Delhi and its surrounding regions as the Air Quality Index breached the 400-mark, entering the severe category. The deterioration signals a critical phase in the capital's seasonal air pollution crisis.
LSN India ·
Delhi's air quality has sharply deteriorated, with the overall Air Quality Index crossing the 400-mark on Friday and slipping into the severe category, prompting authorities to enforce Stage 3 restrictions across Delhi and the National Capital Region. The index measures concentrations of particulate matter and other pollutants, with readings above 400 representing a public health emergency.
The Graded Response Action Plan, a set of measures designed to manage air pollution during winter months, has been progressively tightened as conditions worsened. Stage 3 restrictions represent escalated curbs on vehicular movement, construction activities, and industrial operations aimed at reducing emissions and curtailing air pollutants.
The severe air quality typically emerges during October and November when cooler temperatures trap pollutants closer to the ground, compounded by agricultural burning in neighbouring states and vehicular emissions in the densely populated region. Local meteorological conditions, including wind speed and atmospheric stability, play a crucial role in the dispersal or accumulation of pollutants.
Authorities have urged residents, particularly children, the elderly, and those with respiratory conditions, to limit outdoor activities and use air purifiers indoors. The implementation of Stage 3 measures is expected to remain in effect until air quality metrics show sustained improvement.