A thick layer of smog covered Delhi on Wednesday morning as temperatures fell. The city recorded its first ‘severe’ air quality day of the year. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) immediately activated Stage III restrictions under GRAP.
By Wednesday, the area around India Gate and Kartavya Path was wrapped in toxic haze. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 408, marking a ‘severe’ level.
AQI Climbs to 428, Worst in 11 Months
Delhi’s average AQI rose to 428, the highest since December 19 last year, when it touched 451. The last ‘severe’ day was on December 23, 2024, with an AQI of 406. The jump from Monday’s 362 came after a night of calm winds and low temperatures. Pollutants got trapped near the surface, forming dense smog.
Visibility dropped to 600 metres at Safdarjung and 700 metres at Palam around 6:30 am. The CAQM noted, “The AQI of Delhi which was recorded as 362 on November 10, exhibited a sharp increasing trend and has been recorded 425 at 9 am on November 11 owing to calm winds, stable atmosphere and unfavourable meteorological conditions.”
Construction and Vehicle Ban Enforced
Stage III of GRAP took effect on Tuesday across Delhi, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar. Authorities banned construction and demolition work, except essential projects. They also restricted BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers, except those in emergency or essential use.
Non-essential diesel trucks and BS-IV light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi cannot enter the city. The Directorate of Education asked schools to hold classes up to Class V online or in hybrid mode.
The CAQM told government offices to stagger timings and reduce rush-hour traffic. Central government offices in NCR received similar orders. Agencies were told to strictly enforce all measures from Stages I to III together. Most construction activities stopped, affecting thousands of daily-wage workers.
Smog Eases Slightly, Cold Tightens Grip
Visibility improved slightly by late morning, reaching 2,000 metres, but the haze stayed through the day. The minimum temperature fell to 10.2°C at Safdarjung, the lowest this season and four degrees below normal. The maximum temperature stood at 27.7°C, two degrees below normal.
At 9 am, when Stage III was announced, 33 of 39 monitoring stations showed ‘severe’ air quality. Bawana had the worst reading at 463, followed by Wazirpur at 460. Other heavily polluted areas included Alipur, Burari, Chandni Chowk, ITO, and Jahangirpuri, where PM2.5 levels crossed 600 µg/m³.
Experts Cite Weather for Pollution Surge
Experts blamed meteorological inversion for the sudden spike. Warm air trapped cooler air and pollutants near the ground, preventing their escape. This created thick and lasting smog.
The Centre’s Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) said air quality may improve slightly to the ‘very poor’ category on Wednesday and stay at that level till Friday.