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NEW DELHI: Delhi and its neighbouring areas were blanketed successful dense smog connected Sunday, arsenic the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to hazardous levels. Early greeting readings from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed the AQI astatine 491 astatine 7 am, categorising the aerial arsenic “severe plus”.A heavy furniture of smog severely reduced visibility crossed the capital, causing discomfort for commuters. All 40 monitoring stations successful the metropolis recorded “severe” contamination levels, with Rohini successful northwest Delhi topping the illustration astatine 499. Jahangirpuri and Vivek Vihar followed intimately with AQI readings of 495.The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) — the strictest contamination power measurement nether the wintertime program — pursuing the record-high readings.
Under Stage IV measures
- All operation and demolition activities, including large nationalist projects, person been suspended.
- Entry of BS-IV and little diesel trucks is restricted, but for vehicles carrying indispensable commodities; CNG, LNG, electric, and BS-VI diesel trucks are allowed.
- Schools up to classes IX and XI are to run successful hybrid mode, allowing students to be online.
- Government and backstage offices indispensable tally astatine 50% capacity.
- Residents, peculiarly children, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses, are advised to stay indoors and deterioration masks erstwhile outside.
Experts attributed the spike to precocious emissions combined with debased upwind speeds, wintertime inversion conditions, and mediocre pollutant dispersion. Anumita Roychowdhury, Executive Director astatine the Centre for Science and Environment, said: “This is simply a stark reminder of the urgent request to trim emissions from vehicles, industries, discarded burning, construction, and household fuels.”The India Meteorological Department (IMD) besides issued a yellowish alert for dense fog successful isolated parts of Delhi, with visibility dropping beneath 200 metres successful immoderate areas.
Moderate fog is expected passim the day.Delhi past experienced a “severe plus” AQI time connected 19 December past year, erstwhile the scale deed 451.
Authorities person warned that meteorological conditions are apt to stay unfavourable successful the coming days.CM Rekha Gupta stated that nary stubble-burning incidents had been recorded successful Delhi this year, crediting coordinated efforts by agriculture and situation departments. However, information from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute reported 5 cases successful the northbound district.Residents person been urged to minimise outdoor enactment and travel each information measures issued by CAQM and authorities authorities.
