The national capital region has formally entered a state of "Air Emergency." On Saturday evening, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) deployed Stage IV (Severe+) of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) at Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The measure follows the city’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) showing a sudden surge, crossing the critical 450-mark in several locations.
By the 8:00 PM mark of January 17, Delhi’s AQI stood at 428, and real-time monitors in localized hot spots like Anand Vihar and Bawana broke the 700 mark. Authorities assign this rapid decay to a "Triple Hit": a Western Disturbance, calm surface winds, and a biting cold wave with temperatures dipping to 4.4°C.
The Strictest Curbs: What is Banned Under GRAP-IV?
Stage IV is the ultimate and the toughest of all steps of the anti-pollution model. The emergency measures that have been put in force will take effect now include the following:
- Truck Entry Ban: Entry of non-essential trucks into Delhi is strictly prohibited. Only trucks carrying essential commodities or providing essential services (and those running on LNG, CNG, or Electricity) are allowed.
- Vehicle Ban: Full ban of BS-III Petrol and BS-IV Diesel four-wheelers plying in Delhi and NCR districts of Ghaziabad, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar.
- Construction Halt: All construction and demolition (C&D) works are suspended, including “linear public projects” like highways, roads, flyovers, and power transmission lines.
- Shift in schooling: Schools are expected to switch over to hybrid/online modalities for classes up to Class IX and XI.
- Work from home: All government and private offices must operate with just 50% staff capacity, with the rest asked to work from home.
#WATCH | Delhi | A layer of toxic smog engulfs the national capital. Visuals from the Janpath Road. GRAP 4 invoked in the national capital. pic.twitter.com/wcTzm0T2V3
— ANI (@ANI) January 18, 2026
Health Advisory and Travel Disruptions
With visibility dropping to near zero in the early hours of Sunday morning because of “toxic fog,” more than 150 flights and 20 trains were delayed. Medical professionals have said that inhaling Delhi’s air is equivalent to smoking around 18 cigarettes a day. Residents are strongly encouraged to:
- Avoid all outdoor physical activities.
- Use N95 masks if stepping outside is mandatory.
- Ensure elderly citizens and those with respiratory ailments remain indoors with air purifiers.
