Delhi in 'severe' air zone; AQI soars, Anand Vihar hits 465

NEW DELHI: The capital witnessed severe smog and drastically reduced visibility on Tuesday morning as air quality plummeted back into the "severe" category, posing serious health risks for residents.
As per the data collected at 6am, the Air Quality Index (AQI) reported in Anand Vihar was at 465, 456 at Ashok Vihar, 447 at DTU, 443 at ITO, 412 at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, 465 at Bawana, 449 at Wazirpur, 427 at R K Puram.

Several other areas reported AQI in 'very poor' category, with readings from Aya Nagar at 353, 310 at Lodhi Road, 376 at Sri Aurobindo Marg, 390 at Sirifort.
An Air Quality Index (AQI) in the range of 0-50 is regarded as good, 51-100 as satisfactory, while 101-200 reflects moderate air quality. Levels between 201-300 are considered poor, 301-400 is very poor, and 401-500 is severe.
In light of these hazardous conditions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect on Monday night.
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This decision followed a sharp escalation in AQI levels, which exceeded the critical threshold of 400. The AQI readings rose from 399 at 9pm to 401 at 10pm on Monday night.
An official order dated December 16, issued by RK Agrawal, director of the GRAP sub-committee, stated "In pursuance of the Supreme Court's directives, the sub committee hereby invokes the Stage-IV of the Schedule under the GRAP, as comprehensively revised and issued on December 13, 2024, with immediate effect. The actions under Stage-IV shall be over and above the actions under Stages III, II and I, already in force."
The Supreme Court had previously mandated that Stage III measures be activated if AQI levels exceed 350 and Stage IV actions implemented if the index crosses 400.
With the situation escalating, authorities have urged residents to minimize outdoor exposure, adopt precautionary measures, and prioritize health and safety during this critical period.