Delhi pollution news: WFH for Delhi offices? Decision to be taken soon, says AAP Minister Gopal Rai

Schools in all eight districts of western Uttar Pradesh which are part of the National Capital Region (NCR) have been ordered to switch to online mode of classes in view of air pollution, officials said Tuesday.

The districts where physical classes have been suspended are Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Baghpat, and Hapur (all six part of the Meerut Division) besides Muzaffarnagar and Shamli.

• Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in Delhi has announced a shift to online classes due to the deteriorating air quality in the national capital and surrounding areas. In an official notification released on Monday, the university stated that online classes will be conducted until November 22, 2024, to prioritise the health and well-being of students. The schedule and mode of examinations, however, will remain unchanged.
• “In view of the severe air pollution and hazardous Air Quality Index (AQI) levels in Delhi and NCR, and to safeguard the health and well-being of students, the university has decided to hold classes in online mode until November 22, 2024 (Friday). The schedule and mode of examinations, wherever applicable, will remain unchanged,” read the notification.
• Similarly, the University of Delhi (DU) has also shifted classes to online mode until November 23, 2024, citing the "alarmingly high" AQI in Delhi and NCR. Physical classes at DU are set to resume on November 25, 2024.

• A decision on implementing work-from-home measures and the odd-even scheme will be taken soon to tackle the city’s worsening air quality, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on Tuesday.
• Speaking to PTI, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said, “People, including children and senior citizens, are struggling to breathe and we deeply regret this situation.” The air quality in the national capital has remained in the “severe plus” category since Sunday, with AQI readings consistently above 450. (PTI)

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai has written to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav, urging him to "immediately convene an emergency meeting with the Delhi Government, IIT Kanpur, and all relevant central government departments and agencies, including DGCA, MHA, and the Ministry of Defence, to expedite the issuance of NOCs and clearances for conducting cloud seeding in Delhi as an emergency measure."

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Monday raised concerns about whether Delhi should continue as India’s capital, pointing to its severe pollution levels, which have surpassed those of Dhaka, the world’s second-most polluted city.

Since mid-October, a thick layer of toxic smog has enveloped the national capital, with air quality plunging into the ‘severe plus’ category. The deteriorating conditions have forced authorities to shift schools and colleges to online classes.

The Thiruvananthapuram MP criticized the central government for its inaction, describing Delhi’s pollution crisis as “unconscionable” and highlighting the recurring winter pattern of worsening air quality.

“Delhi is officially the most polluted city in the world—four times the hazardous levels and nearly five times worse than the second-most polluted city, Dhaka. It is unconscionable that our government has witnessed this nightmare for years and done nothing about it,” Tharoor wrote in a post on X.

• Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday said all judges have been asked to allow virtual hearings wherever possible in view of the severe pollution levels in the national capital region.
• As soon as the bench comprising the CJI and Justice Sanjay Kumar assembled, lawyers, including Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) president Kapil Sibal, referred to the worsening pollution in Delhi and NCR and sought immediate measures to deal with it. (PTI)

• Mahesh Palawat, Vice President of Meteorology and Climate Change at Skymet Weather, explained that dense fog in Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi, combined with slow northwest winds, is trapping pollutants in the air.
• "The falling temperatures are causing cold winds to push pollution closer to the surface. Without an increase in wind speed, a significant improvement is unlikely in the next two to three days. However, rain expected later this week could help reduce pollution levels," he said.

• First implemented in 2017, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a set of anti-air pollution measures enforced in Delhi and its surrounding areas.
• It classifies air quality in the Delhi-NCR region into four stages based on severity:
• Stage 1 - 'Poor' (AQI 201-300)
• Stage 2 - 'Very Poor' (AQI 301-400)
• Stage 3 - 'Severe' (AQI 401-450)
• Stage 4 - 'Severe Plus' (AQI above 450)

• Ghaziabad
• Sirsa
• Bulandshahr
• New Delhi
• Rohtak
• Hisar
• Hapur
• Bhopal
• Gwalior
• Gurgaon

• Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 488 at 9 AM, according to CPCB data.
• Out of 32 monitoring stations in the capital, 31 stations recorded AQI levels exceeding 480.
• Two stations, Alipur and Sonia Vihar, maxed out at 500.
• On Monday, Delhi recorded its second-worst air quality in six years, with the AQI reaching 494.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a ‘yellow’ alert for moderate to dense fog across Delhi-NCR, worsening visibility conditions. As of Tuesday morning, visibility at Indira Gandhi International Airport was just 600 meters. Compounding the discomfort, the city recorded 100% humidity, further intensifying the impact of pollution.

Delhi AQI News Live: BJP's Manoj Tiwari distributes masks outside Delhi Metro Station

Severe smog in northern India is disrupting factory production, leading to supply chain delays and reduced worker efficiency, an Economic Times report says. The PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry estimates that more than 3.4 million businesses are affected. In response, companies are adopting mitigation measures such as air purification systems and providing worker safety gear.

• Greenland - AQI of 2
• Mali - AQI of 5
• Cote Divoire - AQI of 6
• Finland - AQI of 6
• Gambia - AQI of 6
• Guinea - AQI of 6
• Iceland - AQI of 6
• Liberia - AQI of 6
• Madagascar - AQI of 6
• Senegal - AQI of 6

• GRAP 4 is activated when the AQI crosses the 450 mark.
• Commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi are banned from entering the capital unless they are:
• Electric vehicles (EVs),
• Running on CNG,
• Conforming to BS-VI norms.
• Decisions may also be made regarding:
• Discontinuing physical classes for senior students,
• Implementing the odd-even road rationing scheme.

• ISRO is receiving data from NASA's satellite, which passes over the NCR region at 10:30 AM and 1:30 PM daily.
• The satellite captures farm fires only during these time periods.
• According to NASA's senior scientist, a Korean stationary satellite captured farm fires at 4:20 PM.
• There is a difference between data from the stationary Korean satellite and the polar-orbiting NASA satellite.
• The court directed the Union of India and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to arrange for data from the Korean stationary satellite or another similar satellite.
• The goal is to provide data on farm fires throughout the day, enabling states to take immediate action.

According to an NDTV report, around 1,000 farm fires were detected in Punjab over the past 24 hours. Hiren Jethva, an aerosol remote sensing scientist at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, confirmed that data showed 1,251 fires — the highest number this season. However, he noted that this data does not account for the seasonal weather changes that typically trap pollution near the ground, unlike in the summer when it dissipates into the atmosphere.

• Delhi's hazardous air quality was a key focus at COP29, as experts warned about the health risks of air pollution and called for immediate global action.
• Aarti Khosla, Director of Climate Trends, sais that Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) had reached dangerous levels, with some areas recording particulate pollution above 1,000 microgram per cubic metre. “Pollution comes from many sources like black carbon, ozone, burning fossil fuels, and farm fires. We need solutions that tackle all of these,” she said.
• Khosla also explained that low wind speeds during the La Niña weather pattern are trapping pollutants in the air, making the situation worse. “While we discuss major global issues, millions of people’s health is at risk. We must act fast,” she said. (PTI)

The Indian Railways in the morning updates said that as many as 22 trains are running late due to the poor visibility in around Delhi. Officials say that 9 trains have been put back due to fog

At an average AQI of 206, India remains the most polluted country in the world, shows the latest data by AQI.in. Pakistan is on number 3 with national AQI of 184. Another Indian neighbour, Nepal is on number 7 with moderate AQI of 97. War-torn Afghanistan has the national AQI of 72, data shows.

• New Delhi - 699
• Chennai - 105
• Ahmedabad - 109
• Hyderabad - 83
• Mumbai - 105
• Kolkata - 192
• Pune - 98
• Bengaluru - 61

AT 6:00 am, Delhi's AQI stood at 697. This shows the danger of morning air for those who step out at this hour. Health experts have been advising people from refraining to step out or mask up specifically during early morning and evening hours.

As per the data of AQI.in, the major pollutants that are turning Delhi's air toxic are PM 2.5 and PM 10. The Carbon Monoxide in Delhi's air stands at 2535 ppb.

The morning data shows that Delhi's air quality index has worsened to 699. As per the data by AQI monitoring site AQI.in, Delhi's air quality is 'hazardous'. AT 699, the air quality has pollutants that are 3.52 times more than the permissible limits. The official CPCB data will be released at 8 am.

Hello and welcome to our ongoing coverage of Delhi's air pollution crisis.

In-person classes will be suspended for classes 10 and 12, the Delhi government announced on Monday as the city choked under "severe" levels of pollution for the sixth straight day.

"From tomorrow physical classes shall be suspended for Class 10 and 12 as well, and all studies will be shifted online," Chief Minister Atishi said in a post on X.

"With the imposition of GRAP-4 from Today, physical classes were discontinued for all students, apart from Class 10 and 12. All schools will hold online classes, until further orders," Chief Minister Atishi said in a post on X on Sunday.

The Directorate of Education, too, issued a circular directing the heads of government and private schools to discontinue the classes for all students, including class 10 and 12.

"All heads of government, government-aided, and unaided private recognised schools under the DoE, MCD, NDMC, and DCB are hereby directed to discontinue physical classes for all students of all classes including class X and class XII until further orders," the DoE stated in a circular.

Delhi University would shift to online classes till November 23, the varsity announced amid worsening air quality levels in the city.

The decision comes as the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) has reached "alarmingly high" levels, prompting concerns about health and safety. Delhi's had an AQI reading of 494 at 4 pm.

In a notification, the university stated, "In the larger interest of students of the colleges and the departments of the University of Delhi, it has been decided that the classes shall be conducted in online mode till Saturday the 23rd November, 2024. Regular classes in physical mode to resume from Monday, the 25th November 2024." The schedule of examinations and interviews, however, remains unchanged, it said.

Delhi AQI News Live: Govt issues updated advisory on air pollution

Delhi AQI News Live: Gurgaon schools directed to stop physical classes till November 23

Delhi government's decision to suspend in-person classes for all except for students of classes 10 and 12 amid alarming levels of pollution in national capital has raised concerns among the interested parties, including students.

While the decision outlined in an official circular aims to protect young children from the hazardous air quality, it has also raised significant concerns among the parents, school authorities, and students.

Sahez, a class 12 student, shared her disappointment about missing out on important programmes in class 11 due to school closures for similar reason last year.

"It feels disheartening to have opportunities taken away because of a recurring problem. Instead of solving it, we’ve learnt to live with it. Holding online classes during peak pollution period only replaces one problem with another as sitting in front of screens for eight hours is equally harmful," she said.

Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 484, the worst this season, at 8 am on Monday, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

President of Delhi Parents Association (DPA), Aprajhita Gautam, said that parents also face challenges when they receive last-minute notifications about schools going online, leaving them scrambling to figure out how to manage young children at home while going to work.

"There are some parents who did not receive the notification regarding online classes and sent their children to school today, only for them to return," Gautam said.

Delhi AQI News Live: Physical classes suspended for Class 10 and 12 as well, says CM Atishi

Delhi AQI News Live: Classes in online mode till November 23, says Delhi University

Delhi's air quality took a turn for the worse on Monday, with areas like Dwarka, Mundka and Najafgarh recording a maximum AQI of 500 in the afternoon.

People complained of itchy and watery eyes as a dense layer of smog continued to envelop the national capital. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 484, the worst this season, at 8 am on Monday.

As the city's air quality is in the "severe plus" category, doctors have warned of health risks for all.

"At this level of pollution, wearing an N95 mask is not an option but a necessity. Even healthy individuals can face respiratory illnesses and other health complications," said Dr Rajat Sharma, resident doctor of Community Medicine at UCMS & GTB Hospital.

Ujjwal Parakh, senior consultant, Department of Chest Medicine at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, emphasised that people need to be extremely cautious at this time due to the hazardous air quality.

With air pollution levels escalating to alarming levels in Delhi and the National Capital Region, the sale of air purifiers and masks have surged significantly, according to traders in the city.

Delhi's air quality plummeted to the 'severe plus' category on Monday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 484 — its worst reading this season, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

As Delhiites struggles to breathe, traders said the demand for air purifiers and masks have increased as many residents see the equipment as a necessity to safeguard their health.

Vijendra Mohan, the owner of Air Expert India, a dealership in Indirapuram, said their air purifier sales have witnessed a significant increase after air pollution breached the 'severe' level.

A total of 14 flights were diverted and many were delayed at the Delhi airport on Monday as bad weather conditions in the national capital resulted in poor visibility impacting aircraft operations, according to an official.

Air India, SpiceJet and IndiGo informed passengers through X that flights may be affected due to poor visibility conditions in the national capital, which is also grappling with high pollution levels.

Out of the 14 flights, 13 were diverted to Jaipur and 1 to Dehradun, the official said and added that the diversions happened between 8.30 am and 3 pm.

Some of the pilots were not trained for CAT III operations due to which flights had to be diverted.

With air quality in Delhi-NCR touching alarming levels, the Supreme Court on Monday urgently directed all the NCR states to form teams to activate GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) 4 restrictions and asked them to keep them in force even if the AQI is below 450. Read more

There is no doubt that pollution is increasing alarmingly in Delhi, people are struggling. The DDA has done a successful experiment with the anti-smog mist system here (in Dwarka) in an area of 550 m. It has been installed on the electric poles, and it spreads mist in the air which catches the smog..." says Delhi LG VK Saxena (

@LtGovDelhi) after launching trial run for anti-smog mist drive.

Punjab reports 1,251 fresh farm fires on Monday, season's highest, as total count reaches 9,655.

Delhi AQI News Live: Air quality remains in the 'Severe' category

"We all know that stubble burning is a major factor in the rising levels of pollution today. Our govt in Punjab was formed in 2022. 47,000 incidents of stubble burning in Punjab were reported from between Oct 15 and 17 in 2022. We worked for two years and brought down the number from 47,000 to 7,500. On the other hand is the BJP govt in UP, where number of incidents of stubble burning increased from 1,500 to 2,500 in two years," says Delhi minister Gopal Rai.

The Supreme Court directed the Union government to make immediate arrangements for getting data from either Korean stationery satellites or any other stationery satellites so that data of stubble burning throughout the day can be made available to the states to enable them to take immediate actions.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) waited for improvement in weather conditions, instead of implementing different stages of GRAP amid the alarming rise in pollution level, the top court said. "Some sense of urgency needs to be there," the court told CAQM.

Swiss air quality monitor IQAir said India's national capital, Delhi, recorded air pollution more than 17 times above an 'acceptable' level. According to IQAir, which collects global pollution data, the city’s air quality index score touched 1743 at 12:30 pm on Monday. A level below 101 is acceptable, and scores above 300 are considered hazardous.

•Entry of trucks into Delhi is banned, except for those carrying essential goods or operating on CNG, LNG, or BS-VI diesel.

•Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) registered outside Delhi, except those running on EV, CNG, or BS-VI diesel, are barred from carrying essential goods.

•Diesel-operated Medium and Heavy Goods Vehicles registered in Delhi (BS-IV or lower) cannot operate, with exceptions for essential services.

•Construction and demolition activities, including public infrastructure projects, are prohibited.

Schools have shifted to online classes

•Governments in Delhi-NCR may direct public and private offices to operate at 50% capacity

•Additional measures like odd-even vehicle rationing, closure of colleges, and halting non-essential commercial activities are under consideration.

As many as 11 flights were diverted and many delayed on Monday morning at the Delhi airport due to poor visibility as thick smog blanketed the national capital and its suburbs, reports said

The Supreme Court directed all NCR states to take a call to stop physical classes for all standards up to class 12 and start online classes.

IMD has predicted clear skies for Monday and Tuesday over Delhi NCR. The predominant surface wind is likely to come from the northwest direction with a speed of less than 6 kmph during the morning hours on Monday. It also mentioned that smog/moderate to dense fog is likely in the morning, and wind speed will increase thereafter but will still be less than 10 kmph from the northwest direction during the afternoon. It will decrease again, becoming less than 8 kmph from the northwest direction during the evening and night. Dense to very dense fog is likely in the evening/night on Monday.

An AQI of 400 or higher is deemed ‘severe,’ and if it exceeds 450, it falls in the ‘severe plus’ category. In 2017, the Centre rolled out the GRAP restrictions for Delhi and its adjoining areas.

On pollution issue, AAP leader Manish Sisodia says, "At present, the whole country is suffering from pollution. We have to look at pollution above politics and BJP also has to take it seriously. It is not a subject for which you can blame the Aam Aadmi Party only. At this time the whole of North India is in the grip of severe stubble burning. BJP has to understand that they have a government at the centre... What has their government been doing at the centre for so many years?... Instead of blaming the Aam Aadmi Party, what is the central government doing?... They should take responsibility and what will be achieved by mere rhetoric ..."

Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva slammed the AAP-led Delhi government for worsening air quality in the national capital and and said, “People in Delhi are suffering because of the kind of governance by the Delhi Govt. Dust control will have to be done and stubble burning in Punjab will have to stop. The situation of pollution is because of the Delhi government's poor work and people have to face consequences…”

Introduced in 2017, GRAP is a graded set of measures to control air pollution in Delhi-NCR based on the severity of the AQI.

The plan categorises air quality into four stages:

Stage I (poor): AQI 201-300

Stage II (very poor): AQI 301-400

Stage III (severe): AQI 401-450

Stage IV (severe plus): AQI above 450

According to IQAir, AQI readings across Delhi ranged from 1,300 to 1,600 on Monday morning, air quality now under 'hazardous' category

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said no senior officer came for afternoon meeting

He said, "After a rise in the pollution level in Delhi, we had called a meeting of senior officers of departments concerned at 12 noon for implementation of GRAP IV. But there is such negligence that despite the pollution level rising to such dangerous levels, no senior officer reached the meeting. Neither the Transport Commissioner nor MCD Commissioner or Principal Secretary PWD or Special Commissioner Traffic or important HoDs of various meeting arrived for the meeting.

The meeting is now rescheduled for 3pm today.

"So, we had to cancel the meeting. We have sent notices to these leaders once again for a 3 pm meeting," he added.

According to the order, no trucks will be allowed into Delhi except for those carrying essential items or using clean fuel (LNG/CNG/BS-VI diesel/electric).

Non-essential light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi will also be prohibited, except for EVs and CNG and BS-VI diesel ones.

Delhi-registered BS-IV or older diesel medium and heavy goods vehicles are banned, except for those in essential services, the order said.

All construction activities, including highways, roads, flyovers, power lines, pipelines and other public projects, have been suspended.

ine flights were diverted and many flights were delayed at the Delhi airport on Monday due to bad weather conditions in the national capital, PTI reported quoting an official.

The official said eight flights were diverted to Jaipur and one to Dehradun.

Authorities directed all schools in Delhi to move classes online and tightened restrictions on construction activities and vehicle movements, citing efforts to “prevent further deterioration” of the air quality.

BJP leaders were spotted distributing masks in Delhi to help people tackle with the "hazardous" air quality.

As many as 160 flights were delayed and seven cancelled due to low visibility, CNN-IBN reported. The thick blanket of smog also affected train services, as 30 trains were rescheduled on November18, when Delhi and neighbouring areas recorded their worst air this season.

A bench of Justices AS Oka and AG Masih heard a case on the air pollution in Delhi and criticised the government for the delays in implementing Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) 3 and 4 despite the rising trend of pollution. When the government representative said they anticipated a decrease in pollution based on IMD data, Justice Oka said," Can you take chances like this? In a lighter vein, can anybody rely on IMD department?"

"...Stubble burning is happening in Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Central Government is sitting idle. Today, entire north India has been pushed into a medical emergency," says Delhi CM Atishi.

Five Delhi-bound flights have been diverted to Jaipur and Dehradun due to low visibility at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI) in the national capital on Monday, according to ANI.

According to the sources, four flights have been diverted to Jaipur while a single flight has been diverted to Dehradun. In addition to flight diversions, the smoggy conditions in Delhi-NCR have led to disruption in railway services also, with several trains experiencing delay in their arrival at the railway station.

Here are the major construction works that will be impacted due to the Delhi pollution.

•The work on six underpasses and bypasses in Delhi will be delayed. These include three underpasses to make Mukarba Chowk and Haiderpur Metro Road jam-free.

•The underpass to go to the Ring Road from Bhairon Marg near Pragati Maidan

•Barapula Elevated Corridor Phase-3 in front of Mayur Vihar Phase-1, Yamuna Khadar

•Construction of four new hospitals

The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology has forecast air quality to be in the ‘severe’ or ‘severe+’ category for the next six days as extremely unfavourable meteorological conditions for the dispersal of pollutants will continue.