Delhi Air Pollution: Dense Fog With 'Severe-Plus' Air Hit National Capital: AQI Nears 493

Delhi woke up on Monday to another day of choking pollution, with the citywide air quality index at 493 at 7 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board data. The reading sat well inside the 'severe-plus’ band, signalling extreme smog and raising major health concerns for people across the National Capital Region.

The grim numbers followed a weekend spike when Delhi’s air turned the worst this season. On Sunday, 38 of 39 functional monitoring stations showed 'severe’ or 'severe-plus’ readings for long stretches. At Wazirpur, Rohini and Ashok Vihar, the 24-hour average AQI touched 500, which is the maximum that instruments record.

Delhi air quality crisis and GRAP Stage-IV measures

With Delhi air quality sinking beyond critical limits, the Commission for Air Quality Management activated Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan across the National Capital Region. This top tier of curbs kicks in when the AQI exceeds 450, and is designed to stop further worsening while aiming to limit public exposure.

Under GRAP Stage-IV, Delhi air quality action now includes a blanket stop on construction and demolition work throughout Delhi-NCR. Stone crushers, mining units and linked activities have also been ordered shut, because they add heavy dust and fine particles. Vehicle restrictions have tightened as well, targeting polluting four-wheelers on key urban roads.

Delhi air quality levels and AQI categories

Vehicle rules tied to Delhi air quality now bar the use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers. The order covers Delhi and nearby districts Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar. Authorities say these curbs build on earlier GRAP stages and aim to cut emissions from traffic, which remains a major pollution source.

Despite these steps, Delhi air quality remained close to the upper measurable limit at many stations on Sunday. Jahangirpuri and Mundka posted an AQI of 499. Bawana stood at 498, while Delhi Technical University and Vivek Vihar logged 497 each. Narela recorded 493, Anand Vihar 492, IHBAS and Dilshad Garden 491, and Okhla Phase-2 490.

Even the cleanest pockets reflected unhealthy Delhi air quality levels. Shadipur, which had the lowest AQI among city stations on Sunday, still recorded 375, squarely in the 'very poor’ category. Experts warned that because the index caps at 500, real exposure at some sites during peak hours might have exceeded reported values by a significant margin.

The Central Pollution Control Board defines Delhi air quality bands under a national AQI scheme, shown below.

Delhi air quality impact on schools and residents

Authorities have also moved to shield younger people from Delhi air quality hazards. Schools up to Class V have been asked to move to hybrid teaching, mixing online and offline modes. Governments may extend such steps by suspending in-person classes for Classes VI to IX and Class XI, depending on conditions in each area.

Public health experts say sustained 'severe-plus’ Delhi air quality places vulnerable groups, including children and the elderly, at high risk of respiratory and cardiac illness. With Monday’s AQI still near 500 and GRAP Stage-IV in force, the city remains under strict curbs while agencies watch pollution data for any sign of sustained relief.