The air in India’s National Capital Region has turned lethally toxic, with AQI levels smashing records and nearing 500 on January 19. From Delhi’s bustling centers to Noida and Ghaziabad’s suburbs, the pollution emergency has sparked Stage-4 GRAP enforcement.
Delhi leads the horror show: stations at Anand Vihar (461), Ashok Vihar (471), Bawana (442), Chandni Chowk (454), Jahangirpuri (468), Rohini (471), Vivek Vihar (472), Wazirpur (473), ITO (430), R.K. Puram (439), Sonia Vihar (467), Mandir Marg (371), and IGI T3 (339) all scream danger.
Spillover effects hit hard in neighboring areas. Noida: Sector-62 (375), Sector-1 (439), Sector-116 (422). Ghaziabad: Indirapuram (433), Loni (476), Sanjay Nagar (389), Vasundhara (457). Morning fog, predicted moderate haze, stagnant air, and humidity have created a perfect storm for pollutant accumulation, says the weather bureau.
GRAP Stage-4 mandates rigorous entry checks for trucks, bans on diesel vehicles over 10 years, construction halts, and more. Without brisk winds or rain, analysts predict worsening trends.
Citizens are advised to limit exposure: stay home, use N95 masks, avoid strenuous activity, and safeguard the young and old. This record-breaking smog episode highlights systemic failures in air quality governance, calling for bolder reforms.