Delhi Air Quality Drops to 'Very Poor' Level; GRAP Phase 2 Implemented to Contain Pollution

Public transit services in Delhi ramped up to reduce vehicle emissions as PM 2.5 levels soar to 'very poor'; stubble burning cases noted to decline.

The air quality in Delhi has dropped to very poor levels with PM 2.5 levels recorded at 306, which can cause serious health issues including lung diseases.
Weather department expect the air quality to remain in the very poor category for the next few days due to factors such as burning of crop remains, low wind speeds, and bursting of firecrackers during festivals.
The second phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been activated to fight increasing pollution. This involves increasing the frequency of public transport services to reduce vehicle emissions.
In addition to the 13 identified pollution hotspots, special teams will be deployed to eight other locations recording high pollution levels to curb sources of pollution like biomass burning, dust, congestion, or cars.
The burning of crop remains, a major source of pollution, hasn't picked up yet near Delhi but is expected to intensify in the coming days, further worsening the pollution.
Despite the pollution crisis, several senior officials were noted to have been absent at a crucial meeting to discuss pollution control measures, causing difficulties in decision making and implementation.