Smog Siege: Delhi’s AQI Crosses 400, City Chokes Under Toxic Haze

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the strictest level of curbs, to combat the crisis. This includes halting construction, shutting down polluting industries, and restricting outdoor activities. Schools across Delhi-NCR have shifted younger classes online, while hybrid models are being adopted for senior students. With visibility dropping and health risks escalating, authorities warn of worsening conditions if weather patterns fail to disperse pollutants.  

Notable updates  
• AQI recorded at 457 in parts of Delhi, categorised as “severe”  
• Thick smog disrupts daily life: 228 flights cancelled, trains delayed  
• CAQM enforces GRAP-4 restrictions including construction bans and industrial shutdowns  
• Schools in Delhi-NCR move to online or hybrid classes to protect children  
• Over 200,000 respiratory illness cases reported in recent years due to pollution surge  

Major takeaway  
Delhi’s pollution emergency underscores the urgent need for structural reforms in urban planning, energy use, and transport to prevent recurring health and environmental crises.  

Sources: India.com, Deccan Herald, The Quint