Overview
- Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI registered 404 on Thursday, with 27–28 of 39 monitoring stations in the ‘Severe’ range and hotspots such as Bawana (≈460) and Chandni Chowk (≈455).
- Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan remains in effect across NCR, halting non-essential construction, restricting BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers, and shifting primary classes to hybrid mode.
- Gurugram and Faridabad authorities ordered classes up to Grade 5 to run in hybrid mode as air quality deteriorated across the wider region.
- IITM/DSS data show farm-fire smoke contributed a season-high 22.47% to PM2.5 on Wednesday and about 12% on Thursday, while transport emissions were roughly 19–20% on Thursday.
- Weak winds, falling temperatures and nighttime inversion trapped pollutants, and forecasts indicate air quality will stay in the Very Poor to Severe bands over the next few days, with the court listing the matter again for November 17.