UPDATED: Oct 21, 2026 18:02 IST
Air quality across Delhi and the National Capital Region deteriorated significantly following Dussehra celebrations and effigy burning, with the Air Quality Index climbing to 244 and morning levels touching 291. In response, the Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The emergency measures mandate heightened dust control at construction zones, checks on road dust, efficient waste handling, and intensified surveillance against polluting activities. The move follows the capital's winter pollution mitigation plan, which includes vehicle emission curbs, promotion of public transport, and work-from-home provisions to curb rising pollution levels.
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