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Delhi’s Air Quality Nears Severe as Fog and Low Winds Trigger GRAP Stage III

Stagnant winter conditions are trapping pollution that has triggered Stage III restrictions.

Overview

  • Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI rose to about 385–391, with at least 20 monitoring stations in the severe range and localities such as Anand Vihar, Nehru Nagar, Shadipur, RK Puram and Patparganj crossing 400.
  • The Commission for Air Quality Management activated GRAP Stage III, curbing construction and certain industrial activity as visibility fell in dense smog.
  • The Delhi government made two GRAP-4 measures permanent, enforcing ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ at pumps and restricting entry of vehicles below BS6 from outside the city.
  • Decision Support System data identified vehicles as the largest local contributor at roughly 16.2% and flagged significant outside influence from Jhajjar at about 17.5%, with Sonipat and Rohtak also adding to Delhi’s load.
  • Airlines issued visibility advisories with possible delays, and official forecasts project several days of very poor to severe air as dispersion remains unfavorable.