Northern India encountered the recurring annual pre-winter event of air emergency where the Air Quality Index (AQI) readings of main pollutant PM 2.5 breached the 400-mark of “very poor” and landed the air of Delhi, Punjab and other northern cities into the “hazardous” category.

Delhi's air quality remains severe, prompting GRAP-III restrictions under which stringent ban will be put in place on construction and demolition activities among others.

Delhi and its neighbouring cities are experiencing pollution levels that are at least 30-35 times the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). Every year, Delhi and northern states battle hazardous air during the winter months of October to January due to plummeting temperatures,

On Thursday morning, Delhi's air quality hit severe levels, with AQI readings reaching as high as 473 in some areas. Despite the hazardous level, the CAQM opted to monitor conditions further before implementing Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).