Watch: Drone footage reveals Delhi's severe air crisis as toxic smog engulfs the city

On the morning of November 15, Delhi and its neighbouring areas, including Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram, experienced a significant deterioration in air quality, with levels plunging into the “severe” category. A dense layer of smog enveloped the National Capital Region (NCR), as seen in drone footage from the Anand Vihar area.

The visuals, shared by ANI, highlighted the extent of the ongoing pollution crisis. According to air quality monitoring data, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in several parts of Delhi soared to hazardous levels, triggering concerns over public health and safety in the capital city.

Drone footage captures severity of toxic smog in Delhi

According to Swiss air technology company IQAir, the Air Quality Index (AQI) in some parts of Delhi reached hazardous levels, with readings ranging from 800 to over 1,100. Areas such as Anand Vihar, Dwarka-Sector 8, and Vasant Vihar’s Block C recorded AQI levels of 1,105, 1,057, and 1,041, respectively. These alarming figures were captured through data gathered from government monitoring stations and IQAir's own sensors, which highlighted the critical state of air quality in the city.



At around 11 am, IQAir reported that the worst-affected areas in Delhi included Anand Vihar (1,105), Vasant Vihar Block C (1,057), and Dwarka-Sector 8 (1,041), with other regions such as Burari Crossing (967) and Mundka (945) also showing dangerously high AQI readings.

The Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer app also recorded an overall AQI of 413, classifying the air quality as “severe.” This underlined the intensity of pollution affecting the residents of Delhi and its neighbouring areas.

GRAP Stage III restrictions imposed

In response to the worsening air quality, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III restrictions were put into effect. GRAP outlines four stages to address Delhi's air pollution levels: Stage I (‘poor’), Stage II (‘very poor’), Stage III (‘severe’), and Stage IV (‘severe plus’). Stage III restrictions include a ban on non-essential construction and demolition, closure of stone crushers, and the prohibition of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles.

Should the pollution levels escalate further, Stage IV measures will come into play, including a ban on inter-state buses (except electric and CNG), suspension of mining activities, and a shift to online classes for younger students. Additionally, daily water sprinkling on major roads will be enforced to reduce dust and pollutants in the air.





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