Overview
- Authorities escalated curbs from Stage III on Friday to Stage IV on Saturday night after Delhi’s AQI jumped from 354 to about 428–434, triggering emergency measures.
- CPCB data this morning showed citywide ‘severe’ air with the average AQI around 439–444 and local peaks near 493 at stations such as Anand Vihar and 488 at Rohini.
- Stage IV actions include a halt on construction and demolition, restrictions on truck entry and older vehicles, hybrid classes for most grades, and 50% work-from-home for many offices in Delhi.
- Dense fog reduced visibility to near zero at Safdarjung and about 100 metres at Palam as the airport ran low-visibility procedures and travellers were advised to check flight status.
- IMD, IITM and the Air Quality Early Warning System expect ‘severe’ conditions through Sunday, then a shift to ‘very poor’ early next week, with health advisories urging limited outdoor exposure.