Delhi's AQI spikes to 483 as Commission enforces Stage III GRAP

Localized pollution spikes across monitoring stations

Data from 59 monitoring stations across Delhi showed that 12 stations recorded severe air quality and 22 stations recorded very poor air quality on Sunday. Another update indicated that 11 of 23 stations reported severe levels, while 12 others fell into the very poor category.

Jahangirpuri registered the highest Air Quality Index in the city at 463. Other stations also recorded severe levels, including Punjabi Bagh at 449 or 450, RK Puram at 448 or 449, and IIT Delhi at 445 or 446.

Bawana reached 446 on the index, while Dwarka recorded 444. Rohini measured 445, North Campus logged 423, and Chandni Chowk recorded 420 or 423.

Additional severe readings included Patparganj at 421, Siri Fort at 423, and CRRI Mathura Road at 425. Pusa recorded 415, Burari Crossing 411, NSUT Jaffarpur 409, and Alipur 413.

Multiple reports confirmed that at least 24 monitoring stations reached values above 400. Locations such as Narela, ITO, and Mandir Marg registered 399, 396, and 393 respectively, falling into the very poor category.

Talkatora Garden and Aya Nagar each reported 369, while Burari and Uttam Nagar recorded 370 and 373. Vasundhara Enclave logged 356, with Tikri Kalan and Badarpur both measuring 349. Anand Vihar recorded 328 on the index.

Factors contributing to the hazardous smog

Experts said the city’s air quality was likely to worsen because of unfavourable weather conditions, Diwali celebrations, and vehicle emissions. These factors are compounded by seasonal stubble burning in neighbouring states.

PM2.5 was the dominant pollutant on Sunday, with firecracker emissions increasing particulate matter levels.

The city's Decision Support System estimated that transport contributed 21.4% of the total pollution load on that day.

Satellite data detected 589 crop-residue-burning incidents across six states on Friday, including 357 in Punjab, 139 in Madhya Pradesh, 58 in Rajasthan, 23 in Uttar Pradesh, 9 in Haryana, and 3 in Uttarakhand.

The Air Quality Early Warning System stated that these conditions hinder pollutant dispersion and keep pollutants trapped in the air.

Enforcement of GRAP Stage III measures

This emergency action plan covers Delhi and the neighboring districts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

GRAP is a four-stage system overseen by CAQM in partnership with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and state governments, with restrictions tightening as air quality declines. With Stage III in force, existing restrictions continue alongside additional pollution-control actions, increased enforcement, and directives to concerned agencies to prevent further air quality deterioration.

Operations that generate large amounts of dust, such as stone crushers and mining, are subject to immediate shutdown or operational limits under these measures. These actions are intended to contain pollution levels and prevent further deterioration across Delhi-NCR following the Diwali celebration.

Diwali celebrations continue nationwide

In the capital, the area around India Gate recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 398, categorized as very poor.

Concerns over data transparency and health

Environmentalist Bhavreen Kandhari said existing policies have fundamental flaws and questioned the authenticity of government-provided Air Quality Index data. Kandhari noted that many citizens own independent air quality monitors and have been recording pollution levels daily, suggesting higher pollution than shown on the Sameer app.

Significant outages occurred at IIT Delhi, Nangloi, and NSIT Dwarka, including during evening hours.

Kandhari also criticized the restricted windows for bursting firecrackers, saying violations continue unchecked and harm children’s lungs and developing brains.

Supreme Court stance on green firecrackers

As air quality levels remain high, monitoring stations such as Karala recorded an AQI of 337 and Lodhi Road recorded 333.