New Delhi, Dec 14: Delhi woke up to dense smog on Sunday morning, with air quality plunging into the ‘severe’ category despite the implementation of Stage-IV measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region (NCR). According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 461 at 7 am.

A thick blanket of smog covered the city overnight, significantly reducing visibility and leaving residents struggling to breathe. By Sunday, the AQI in several areas had surged further, touching 497, triggering widespread concern among locals. Many residents complained of breathing difficulties, eye irritation and other pollution-related health problems as air quality continued to deteriorate.

As per CPCB standards, an AQI between 0 and 50 is classified as ‘good’, 51–100 as ‘satisfactory’, 101–200 as ‘moderate’, 201–300 as ‘poor’, 301–400 as ‘very poor’, and 401–500 as ‘severe’.

In response to the worsening air conditions, the Delhi Directorate of Education on Saturday directed schools to conduct classes for students up to Class IX and Class XI in a hybrid mode. Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management has enforced Stage-IV restrictions under GRAP with immediate effect, aiming to prevent further escalation of pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.