Overview
- Authorities escalated restrictions Saturday evening after Delhi’s AQI, around 354 earlier in the day, spiked into the ‘severe’ range, reaching about 416–428.
- Stage IV measures extend the existing Stage III curbs with a blanket halt on construction and demolition, closure of stone crushers and mining, and stricter limits on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers.
- Multiple hotspots registered ‘severe’ readings even as the citywide average stayed in the ‘very poor’ band earlier, including Anand Vihar at 442, Patparganj at 433 and Chandni Chowk at 427.
- IMD and IITM had warned of slow winds, a stable atmosphere and dense fog restricting dispersion, and IGI Airport operated under Low Visibility Procedures with flight delays reported.
- The CAQM directed NCR pollution boards and enforcement agencies to intensify compliance; Stage III was reinstated on January 16 after its January 2 withdrawal before the latest escalation.