GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 18th Nov. Delhi’s air quality worsened dramatically on Monday, with the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching a hazardous 484, marking the worst reading of the season. The city was engulfed in dense, toxic smog, significantly reducing visibility, which plummeted to just 150 meters at Safdarjung airport in the morning.
As the AQI crossed the 450 mark, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and Adjoining Areas enforced Stage-IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). These measures included a ban on truck entry, except for those carrying essential goods or using clean fuels such as LNG, CNG, BS-VI diesel, or electric vehicles. Additionally, non-essential light commercial vehicles from outside Delhi were prohibited, along with the suspension of all construction activities for public projects like highways and flyovers.
The Delhi government responded by advising schools to suspend physical classes for students, except those in classes 10 and 12. Offices across the NCR were also urged to operate at 50% capacity with the remainder working from home.
On Sunday, the AQI had already climbed to 441 by 4 pm and worsened to 457 by 7 pm due to unfavorable weather conditions. With the ongoing air pollution crisis, experts warned of its adverse impact on both healthy individuals and those with pre-existing health conditions.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported a minimum temperature of 16.2°C, 3.9 degrees above normal, with a maximum temperature expected to reach 27°C. Dense fog is also predicted throughout the day.
The post Delhi’s Air Quality Hits ‘Severe Plus’ Category, AQI Reaches 484 appeared first on Global Governance News- Asia's First Bilingual News portal for Global News and Updates.
