Delhi's air hits 'severe' as GRAP-4 kicks in amid winter haze
Delhi's air hits 'severe' as GRAP-4 kicks in amid winter haze
Delhi's AQI climbs to 434, triggering GRAP-4 restrictions as pollutants trap under calm winds; truck bans, school shifts, and construction curbs amid winter haze.
Delhi’s air quality plunged into the ‘severe’ category, with the AQI hitting 434 by 11pm, marking the first such day this year. The relief measures under GRAP Stage 4 were activated Saturday evening as conditions worsened, following a day when the index rose from 354 at 4pm on Friday to 400 by 4pm on Saturday. The sharp rise was attributed to calm winds, a stable atmosphere, and unfavourable meteorological conditions that trapped pollutants. The situation intensified as humidity swung between 53% and 100% on Saturday.
Under Stage 4, entry of BS-IV truck traffic into Delhi is restricted, and all construction and demolition work is prohibited. Schools up to Class 10 must shift to hybrid lessons, with Classes 10 and 12 continuing in-person. Stage 3 measures, already in place since Friday, ban BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar, along with blanket curbs on private construction and demolition, and restrictions on stone crushers and mining operations. Hybrid lessons for schools up to Class 5 in Delhi and neighboring districts were also part of Stage 3.
The deterioration prompted the Sub-Committee on GRAP to call an urgent meeting at 8:15 p.m. to review the air quality situation, with authorities noting the ongoing calm winds and stable atmosphere as key factors sustaining the high pollutant levels. As authorities enforced the curbs, activities like large-scale rehearsals continued cautiously; even as some public events took place, the focus remained on reducing exposure and emissions.
Beating Retreat rehearsals at Vijay Chowk occurred amid the tightening restrictions, underscoring the city’s precarious air conditions during the winter season. Residents were urged to limit outdoor activity, wear masks if stepping out, and stay informed about the evolving air quality readings.
