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Delhi remains engulfed in thick smog, with air quality classified as "severe" for the third day in a row. 

 

With AQI 498, Delhi ranks as the second most polluted city globally, following Lahore in Pakistan, where AQI 770 was recorded at 7 am. 

 

IQAir, a Swiss organisation, evaluates major cities based on Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM2.5) statistics. 

 

This morning, the most polluted regions in Delhi are Jahangirpuri (with AQI 458), Bawana (455), Wazirpur (455), Rohini (452), and Punjabi Bagh (443), according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board's Sameer App. 

 

Palam and Safdurjung in Delhi recorded visibility levels of 500m and 400m, respectively. 

 

The low visibility caused by the smog has disrupted flight and rail operations nationwide. Several IndiGo flights to and from Amritsar have been impacted, while many SpiceJet flights travelling to and from Delhi and Darbanga are experiencing delays. 

 

Numerous trains are running behind schedule by over two hours, with more than 25 trains arriving at New Delhi railway station also delayed. 

 

With no signs of improvement, all primary schools in Delhi have transitioned to online learning, as announced by Chief Minister Atishi on X. She stated that online classes for primary school students will continue "until further instructions." 

 

On Thursday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated stage 3 of the Graded Action Response Plan (GRAP). As part of GRAP 3, the following restrictions and measures have been implemented: 

 

• A prohibition on non-essential construction and demolition activities. 

• A restriction on the use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers in Delhi and surrounding NCR areas such as Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Noida. 

• Limiting the use of diesel generator sets strictly for emergency situations. Industrial operations utilising fuels outside the approved standard list are prohibited. 

• Increased mechanised road cleaning and water spraying to control dust. 

• Expanded public transportation services and encouragement of off-peak travel through differential pricing. 

 

Welding and gas-cutting operations are restricted, though minor welding tasks for Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) work are allowed. 

 

Health experts advise minimising outdoor activities during peak pollution hours, which usually occur in the early morning and evening and recommend wearing masks, especially in heavily polluted areas.