Air quality hits hazardous levels in Delhi NCR | Fusion - WeRIndia

The air quality in Delhi NCR has plummeted to alarming levels, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting the severe-plus category.

A thick blanket of smog has engulfed Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram for the seventh consecutive day. It created a health emergency in the region.

Several monitoring stations, including Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri, and RK Puram, recorded AQI levels near or at the maximum reading of 500.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) flagged the situation as critical. The CPCB urged immediate intervention to address the severe air pollution.

Educational institutions have taken precautionary measures, with Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University shifting to online classes until November 23 and November 22, respectively.

Schools across Delhi have also suspended physical classes, including Class 10 and Class 12. The decision followed a directive from the Directorate of Education.

The Delhi government has declared the situation a medical emergency and stressed the need for urgent action.

It identified stubble burning and unfavourable weather conditions as the primary contributors to the hazardous air quality.

To mitigate the crisis, the Supreme Court of India instructed states in the Delhi NCR region to enforce the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) without delay.

It emphasized that ensuring a pollution-free environment is a constitutional duty.

The court also criticized the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for delaying GRAP implementation and insisted on strict compliance with anti-pollution measures.

The Union health secretary has issued guidelines urging states and union territories to strengthen healthcare systems and protect vulnerable populations.

The advisory recommends expanding hospital monitoring networks to track air pollution-related illnesses and devising detailed district-level action plans.

As conditions worsen, authorities have called for immediate and coordinated efforts to curb the crisis.

Meanwhile, citizens are advised to limit outdoor activities and use protective measures to safeguard their health.

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