Delhi wakes to AQI 331 as Jahangirpuri hits 499; GRAP stage II curbs in force

Delhi woke to a grey haze on Tuesday, with the city’s average air quality index at 331 at 7 am, firmly in the very poor band, and five monitoring stations reading above 400.

Jahangirpuri in north Delhi was the worst at 499, close to the top of the scale. Rohini (431), Bawana (408), Narela (406) and Delhi Technological University (403) were also in the severe range. Patparganj, R K Puram and ITO were in the 370s.

The reading has climbed for three days running: 117 on Saturday, 261 on Sunday and 324 at 4 pm on Monday, the city’s worst average since 4 February.

What stage II means

The Commission for Air Quality Management invoked stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan across the National Capital Region on Monday after what it called a sharp rise in pollution. “The forecast by IMD/IITM has also predicted AQI to remain in ‘Very Poor’ category in coming days,” the commission said.

Under stage II, the use of coal and firewood is banned, diesel generator sets are restricted and parking fees go up to keep private cars off the road. Civic bodies must step up mechanical road sweeping, water sprinkling and the use of anti-smog guns. These sit on top of the stage I rules already in force.

No relief in sight

The India Meteorological Department expects mainly clear skies with morning mist on Tuesday and Wednesday and no rain for the next few days, with maximum temperatures of 28 to 29 degrees Celsius. The early warning system run by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology expects the air to stay very poor until at least Thursday, 5 November.

The next step, stage III, is triggered when the city average crosses 400 into the severe range.