New Delhi, November 12 (Udaipur Kiran): The national capital continued to choke under a thick layer of toxic smog on Tuesday morning, with areas around India Gate and Kartavya Path blanketed in dense haze. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in this zone was recorded at 408, falling under the ‘severe’ category.
On Tuesday, Delhi’s overall air quality had already touched the ‘severe’ mark for the first time this season, with an average AQI of 425. CPCB data indicates that such pollution levels were last recorded in December last year. Experts attribute the alarming deterioration in air quality to stagnant weather conditions and rising local emissions.
The CPCB classifies AQI readings between 401 and 500 as ‘severe,’ which can affect even healthy individuals and cause serious respiratory problems in those with existing ailments. With the onset of colder weather in November, breathing in Delhi’s toxic air has become increasingly difficult.
Despite the implementation of GRAP Stage 3 (Graded Response Action Plan) measures on Tuesday, there has been no visible improvement in air quality. Under these curbs, schools up to Class 5 have been directed to operate in hybrid mode.
In response to the worsening conditions, the central government has issued fresh health advisories. It has identified children, pregnant women, and the elderly as high-risk groups and instructed government hospitals in polluted areas to set up dedicated chest clinics. The Union Health Ministry has sent 33-page detailed guidelines to all northern states, urging them to take immediate action.
In a letter to state chief secretaries, Union Secretary Punya Salila Srivastava warned that the continuous decline in air quality poses a grave public health threat. The Centre has asked states to enforce online learning for primary school children, monitor construction sites, and activate state and district-level task forces. Departments including environment, transport, urban development, women and child welfare, and labour have been told to coordinate closely to ensure strict compliance with the existing GRAP framework across Delhi-NCR.
The ministry also cautioned that air pollution not only affects the lungs but can also damage the heart, brain, and nervous system.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
