Despite GRAP-2 curbs, Delhi pollution worsens; Mandir Marg records AQI over 500

The Air Quality Index, or AQI, converts air pollution measurements into an easy-to-understand scale. It ranges from Good at 0–50 to Severe at 401–500. This helps residents and authorities quickly understand how polluted the air is and how urgently precautions are needed.

Delhi’s AQI was 369 at 6 AM, placing the city in the ‘Very Poor’ category, which spans 301–400. Mandir Marg recorded 508, above the listed scale’s upper limit and reported as ‘Severe’. The city’s AQI had risen from 350 at 4 PM the previous day.

These readings show that pollution was not limited to one isolated location. The IITM warned that people could experience more serious health effects. Delhi was expected to remain ‘Very Poor’ on Thursday, with a predicted AQI of 343, and likely to stay in that category for several days.

The station readings show that Delhi’s pollution was spread across much of the city, rather than concentrated at one location. The article counted 25 monitoring stations, giving a station-by-station picture of conditions on Wednesday morning.

Fourteen stations were in the ‘Severe’ category. Another 10 were in the ‘Very Poor’ category. Only one station, Anand Vihar, was in the ‘Poor’ category, with an AQI of 297. Mandir Marg recorded the highest specifically mentioned reading, at 508.

This distribution indicates consistently dangerous air across the monitoring network. It also explains why Delhi’s overall AQI remained ‘Very Poor’ despite anti-pollution measures. The city was expected to stay in that category on Thursday and over the next few days.

Wind and rain can temporarily improve urban air by moving or removing suspended pollution. The article says last week’s initial winds and showers made Delhi’s air somewhat cleaner and lowered the city’s average AQI.

Once the showers stopped, that cleansing effect weakened. With less rain to wash particles down and less wind to carry polluted air away, emissions from roads, construction and other sources could remain suspended. The article links the end of the showers directly with the renewed rise in pollution.

Delhi’s AQI climbed from 350 at 4 PM on Tuesday to 369 at 6 AM on Wednesday. The weather outlook included mainly clear skies and morning mist, while the city was expected to remain ‘Very Poor’. This suggests that temporary improvement had not lasted.

Very Poor and Severe air quality means pollution levels are high enough to threaten health, especially when exposure continues. The article reports that the IITM warned people may experience more serious health effects under the current conditions.

The text does not specify particular illnesses or symptoms. In general, established health guidance links heavy air pollution with breathing irritation, worsened asthma and other lung problems, and greater strain on the heart and lungs. People with existing respiratory or cardiac conditions are usually more vulnerable.

Delhi’s overall AQI was 369, while Mandir Marg reached 508. The city was predicted to remain ‘Very Poor’ on Thursday, with an AQI of 343, and over the next few days. Continued exposure therefore remains the central concern, according to the reported warning.

GRAP means the Graded Response Action Plan, a staged system for responding to worsening air pollution in Delhi and nearby areas. Its purpose is to introduce stronger controls as air quality deteriorates, rather than relying on one single measure. The provided article identifies the restrictions as part of anti-pollution action but does not define every GRAP-2 provision.

The reported measures include controlling dust, inspecting and deploying anti-smog guns, banning dust-generating construction and demolition, and limiting office attendance in Gurugram to 50 percent. Essential services and projects involving railways, metros, airports, hospitals, water, sanitation and national security could continue.

These steps aim to reduce fresh emissions and dust while pollution is already high. The article reports that violations could bring action under the CAQM Act, 2021. The broader implication is a coordinated response across Delhi and nearby areas as air quality remains ‘Very Poor’.

These measures work by reducing either the creation of pollution or the movement of people and dust. Construction and demolition bans stop major dust-generating activity. Work-from-home rules reduce commuting and the associated vehicle activity. Road cleaning removes accumulated dust before traffic can lift it again.

Anti-smog guns use fine water droplets to settle dust and suspended particles. The truck-mounted equipment can spray water up to 50 metres high. The PWD plans to use 200 guns for deep cleaning, including roads, kerb channels, drainage openings and debris areas, while coordinating with the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.

The measures are intended to lower particulate pollution during a high-risk period. Their effect depends on proper deployment and compliance. The PWD therefore requires committees to inspect each vehicle and certify its fitness before operation, while officials will conduct daily checks on construction restrictions.

Pollution disperses more easily when wind is strong enough to move air and when the atmosphere mixes vertically. Mixing spreads pollutants through a larger volume of air, lowering their concentration near the ground. Calm or weakly mixed air allows emissions to build up where people breathe.

The article reports northwesterly winds reaching 15–20 kmph during some afternoons. It also forecasts morning mist, mainly clear skies, and minimum temperatures of 14–17 degrees Celsius. Mist can coincide with moist, stable near-ground air, while temperature differences between the surface and air above influence how freely pollutants rise and mix.

These conditions help explain why pollution may remain concentrated despite clear skies. The article expects Delhi to stay in the ‘Very Poor’ category over the next few days. Weather changes, especially stronger winds or showers, could improve dispersion, while stagnant conditions could prolong the buildup.