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Delhi Chokes: Air Quality Hits Severe Plus Stage
17 Jan
Summary
- Delhi-NCR implements Stage 4 pollution curbs due to severe air quality.
- AQI reached 416, categorizing it as severe, exceeding 'very poor' levels.
- Forecasts predict worsening air quality amid winter chill and fog.
Stricter pollution curbs, classified as Stage 4 under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), have been enforced in Delhi-NCR. This decision was made on Saturday, January 17, as the region's air quality deteriorated into the 'severe' category. The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded Saturday was 354, which worsened to 416 by 6 pm, triggering these enhanced measures.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) escalated restrictions just a day after imposing GRAP Stage 3. This escalation occurs amidst a period of dense fog and extreme winter chill, with minimum temperatures dipping to 4.4 degrees Celsius. Forecasts predict continued poor air quality due to slow wind speeds and stable atmospheric conditions.
Authorities had previously revoked Stage 3 restrictions on January 2 due to improvements, but deteriorating conditions on Friday and Saturday necessitated their reintroduction and further escalation. Minimum temperatures are expected to rise slightly between January 17 and 20, with a possibility of light rainfall, though another cold spell is anticipated later in the month.
