Delhi’s Air Quality Stays ‘Very Poor’ At 384; Several Areas Slip Back Into ‘Severe’ Zone

Delhi's air quality remained stuck in the 'very poor' category at 384 on Friday, even though the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lifted Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III restrictions earlier in the week. A thick haze has once again settled over the capital, pushing several areas back into the 'severe' pollution bracket and prompting authorities to step up Stage I and II measures to prevent further deterioration.

Data from the government-run SAMEER AQI app showed RK Puram recording the highest pollution levels on Friday with an AQI of 420. Other severely affected areas included Punjabi Bagh (417), Shadipur (395), Sirifort (392) and Lodhi Road (358).

Toxic smog returns despite easing of curbs

On Thursday, Delhi was covered in a dense layer of smog, just a day after CAQM revoked GRAP Stage III restrictions. CPCB data indicated the city's overall AQI rose to 349 at 7 am on Thursday, up from 327 recorded at 4 pm on Wednesday.

Several monitoring stations hovered around or crossed the 'severe' mark of 400. Wazirpur logged the worst reading at 406, followed closely by Bawana at 405. Anand Vihar reported an AQI of 390, while Mandir Marg stood significantly lower at 243.

A large cluster of stations reported AQI numbers near the 400 threshold: Rohini (400), Vivek Vihar (400), Nehru Nagar (395), Jahangirpuri (394), Narela (388), Ashok Vihar (388), Punjabi Bagh (377), Mundka (377), DTU (373), Chandni Chowk (371), Burari Crossing (369), ITO (357), RK Puram (356), Sonia Vihar (355), Okhla Phase-II (351), Patparganj (351) and JLN Stadium (350). A few areas such as Major Dhyan Chand Stadium (299), Lodhi Road (297), Sri Aurobindo Marg (295) and Aya Nagar (282) recorded AQI levels below 300.

Visuals from Anand Vihar showed the locality blanketed by thick smog, while truck-mounted sprinklers operated along Kartavya Path where the AQI stood at 299. Residents reported worsening respiratory distress, with one local saying, "We are having difficulty breathing, and it feels very suffocating. This suffocation has increased since last week."

Why Stage III restrictions were lifted

CAQM withdrew Stage III measures after the citywide AQI dropped from 'severe' to 'very poor'. However, it directed all NCR authorities on Wednesday to strictly intensify actions under Stage I and II to prevent pollution from spiking again. "All implementing agencies shall keep strict vigil and especially intensify measures under Stage-1 and Stage-2 of the modified GRAP to ensure that AQI levels do not slip further to the 'Severe/Severe+' category," the order stated.

It also clarified that construction sites shut for violations cannot resume operations without separate approval.

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a policy framework that activates emergency pollution-control measures in phases, depending on air quality levels across Delhi-NCR.