Delhi Gasps For Breath as Air Quality Remains 'Severe', Primary Schools Shut, GRAP-III Curbs Imposed

New Delhi: Amid rising air pollution levels in national capital and its joining areas, including Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziab and Faridab, residents continue to grapple with thick toxic smog, prompting authorities to take strict measure to combat health emergency.

As per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), air quality in city breached “severe” category with Anand Vihar registering AQI at 441 on Friday. air quality in city remained in :severe" category for third consecutive day on Friday. city's 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI), recorded at 4pm every day, was recorded at 424, up from 418 on Wednesday. On Friday as well, a thick layer of smog enveloped city, reducing visibility and disrupting traffic.

Out of Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations, 27 loged air quality in "severe" zone. se stations include Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Aya Nagar, Bawana, Dwarka Sector 8, IGI Airport, ITO, Jahangirpuri, Mandir Marg, Mundka, Najafgarh, Narela, Nehru Nagar, North Campus, Patparganj and Punjabi Bagh.

Delhi Schools to Shift to Online Mode

In wake of a health emergency, Delhi government has ordered school in city to shift to online learning mode to ensure safety for school children. As per order, physical classes for primary schools will not be conducted until furr orders, but online classes can continue.

GRAP-III Curbs Imposed

rising air pollution level also triggered implementation of third stage of Gred Response Action Plan (GRAP). restrictions came into force at 8am on Friday.

GRAP is a set of emergency measures to combat air pollution in Delhi-NCR region. measure is brought into force by commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) when Air Quality Index (AQI) surpasses a certain level, trigerring a health emergency.

GRAP for Delhi-NCR is divided into four stages of air quality -- Stage 1 for "poor" Air Quality Index (AQI) ranging between 201 and 300, Stage 2 for "very poor" AQI of 301-400, Stage 3 for "severe" AQI of 401-450 and Stage 4 for "severe plus" AQI (more than 450).

What is Restricted Under GRAP 3?

• Construction and demolition activities will be halted
• Non-essential mining activities to be suspended
• Non-electric, non-CNG, and non-BS-VI diesel interstate buses will face restrictions

In view of implementation of GRAP-III, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) said 20 ditional trips (in dition to 40 alrey in place since GRAP-II was implemented) will be inducted into services on weekdays, starting Friday, November 15.

air quality in Delhi h been in "very poor" category since October 30 and city's air quality plunged into “severe” category for first time this season on Wednesday.