Smog blankets Delhi as AQI hits dangerous levels
Delhi's air quality plunged to "Severe Plus" category on Thursday with the Air Quality Index touching 450 at multiple monitoring stations — the worst reading of the season — prompting authorities to shut all primary schools and impose emergency restrictions on construction and vehicle movement.
The Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), banning all diesel vehicles below BS6 standards, halting all construction activity, and closing brick kilns and hot mix plants in the National Capital Region.
Residents across Delhi reported difficulty breathing, burning eyes, and visibility dropping to under 200 metres in some areas. AIIMS doctors reported a 40% surge in patients presenting with respiratory complaints at emergency departments.
"We are seeing children with severe asthmatic attacks, elderly patients in acute respiratory distress — this is a public health emergency," said Dr. Randeep Guleria, former AIIMS director.
Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP-ruled states of Haryana and Punjab of failing to control stubble burning, which satellite imagery showed was contributing significantly to the capital's pollution. Chief Ministers of both states denied the allegations.
The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the situation and summoned officials from Delhi, Haryana, Punjab, and UP to appear before it on Friday.
