Delhi under toxic smog as emergency measures intensify, travel advisories issued
AQI readings remain 'very poor', posing serious health risks. GRAP Stage-IV emergency measures are enforced, restricting construction and industries.
New Delhi: The national capital remains trapped in a hazardous blanket of dense smog and fog on Wednesday morning. The deteriorated air quality plunged Delhi residents into yet another day of alarming air quality and severely reduced visibility.
The visuals from across Delhi-NCR painted a grim picture, with iconic landmarks like the Akshardham Temple barely discernible through the thick, grey haze that blanketed major arteries, such as Anand Vihar and ITO.
Air Quality Index (AQI) readings, monitored by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), confirm the grim reality. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 341, while the ITO area climbed to 360 – both firmly entrenched in the 'very poor' category.
While a minor reprieve was observed on Tuesday, with stronger winds providing a slight reduction in fog and improving AQI to 377 (down from 498 on Monday), the air remains unequivocally unsafe, posing a severe threat to vulnerable populations, including children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory ailments.
GRAP Stage-IV: Emergency clampdown enforced
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked the most stringent measures under Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR. These emergency protocols, triggered by critically high pollution levels, mandate a severe crackdown on pollution-generating activities. Strict prohibitions are now in effect for most construction and demolition activities, non-essential industrial operations, and a further tightening of restrictions on the movement of certain vehicles.
Travel chaos: Flights and roads under siege
The relentless weather conditions have predictably wreaked havoc on travel networks. IndiGo, a major airline, issued a travel advisory on Tuesday night, warning passengers of significant disruptions expected on Wednesday morning due to pervasive fog across North and East India. The airline cautioned about potential flight delays or schedule alterations, urging passengers to account for extra travel time to airports and to meticulously check flight statuses before departing from home, as road traffic is also anticipated to move at a snail's pace.