Sun Nov 17 17:57:31 UTC 2024: ## Delhi Chokes as Air Quality Plunges to Emergency Levels
**New Delhi, India** – Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated to critically hazardous levels, forcing the government to implement stringent emergency measures. The Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to 462 on Sunday evening, exceeding 450 for the first time this season and reaching Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-IV).
In response to the alarming situation, the Delhi government announced the immediate implementation of GRAP-IV, starting Monday. This includes a ban on the entry of diesel vehicles (excluding those providing essential services), allowing only CNG, BS-VI diesel, and electric vehicles.
Schools and offices are also affected. Students from classes 6-9 and 11 will transition to online learning, while offices in the NCR region are mandated to operate with only 50% of their staff on-site, implementing work-from-home arrangements for the remaining employees.
To better monitor the situation, the number of air quality monitoring stations in Delhi has been increased from 34 to 40. An AQI between 401 and 500 indicates a severe level of air pollution, highlighting the severity of the current crisis in the nation’s capital.
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