Delhi AQI & Air Pollution Live Updates: Private Offices Asked To Implement Work From Home In Gurugram

With pollution levels at "severe plus," Delhi residents are enduring the worst air quality of the season, posing severe health risks. Stay tuned for live updates.

Delhi grapples with severe air pollution crisis. Thick blankets of smog have covered the city such that visibility stands at just a few meters. Flights and train operations have been considerably affected, and the Air Quality Index has soared to dangerous levels, touching 500 in several areas and reaching an alarming 1,500 in one area. 

With pollution levels at "severe plus," Delhi residents are enduring the worst air quality of the season, posing severe health risks. Authorities continue to urge citizens to limit outdoor activities and adopt protective measures, but with no significant improvement in sight, Delhi’s air emergency shows no signs of abating.

AQI Dips To 'Severe Plus' Levels

The CPCB reported AQI of 500 at 5 a.m. Tuesday, November 19 in areas such as Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Jahangirpuri, and Major Dhyan Chand Stadium. Other regions like Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Dwarka Sector-8, Munka, North Campus, RK Puram, and Wazirpur showed equally hazardous readings.

The situation has been declared a "medical emergency" with authorities issuing health advisories to people, particularly children, the elderly, and those who have respiratory issues, not to go out.

Universities Go Online

Delhi University (DU) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) issued updates about shifting classes online due to the dangerous air quality. DU announced that its physical classes will continue to remain suspended until November 25, and JNU's online classes will remain in operation till November 22. The scheduled exams and interviews at both universities will be held as scheduled. 

Schools and Government Response

The Delhi Directorate of Education has directed all government and private schools in the city to shift classes online, even classes of classes 10 and 12. Delhi Chief Minister Atishi confirmed that from November 20, in-person classes for higher grades would be cancelled. 

To tackle the worsened pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has ordered Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR.

19 November 2024

17:35 IST

Gurugram AQI Live Updates: DC Orders Work From Home For Private Firms

"In line with the directive from the Commission for Air Quality Management (NCR), all private institutions & corporate offices in Gurugram are advised to implement 50% work-from-home policy starting 20th Nov 2024 until further notice. This is crucial in combating "Severe+" air quality levels & supporting the GRAP measures to improve air quality in the region," said the District Collector's office, Gurugram.

#Advisory | In line with the directive from the Commission for Air Quality Management (NCR), all private institutions & corporate offices in Gurugram are advised to implement 50% work-from-home policy starting 20th Nov 2024 until further notice.

This is crucial in combating… pic.twitter.com/o2LLbjVRKN

— DC Gurugram (@DC_Gurugram) November 19, 2024

17:04 IST

Delhi-NCR Air Pollution

BJP leader Vijay Goel with others stages a demonstration against the AAP government over air pollution in the national capital, in New Delhi.   

15:32 IST

Delhi NCR Air Pollution Live: Schools In 8 Western UP Districts Shift To Online Classes Amid Pollution Spike

Schools across eight districts of western Uttar Pradesh within the National Capital Region (NCR) have been directed to transition to online classes due to worsening air pollution, officials announced on Tuesday, reported PTI.

The affected districts include Meerut, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar, Bulandshahr, Baghpat, and Hapur—all part of the Meerut Division—along with Muzaffarnagar and Shamli.  

The NCR spans Delhi, 14 districts in Haryana, two in Rajasthan, and eight in Uttar Pradesh, covering a total area of 14,826 square kilometers in the state.

12:05 IST

Delhi-NCR Air Pollution Live Updates: Gopal Rai Asks PM To Intervene

The Union environment minister has not responded to repeated requests from the Delhi government to call an emergency meeting over the dire pollution situation in the city and allowing artificial rain, he said. "If the central government cannot act, then their (environment) minister should resign," he added.

Rai also called on Modi to intervene in the matter and said it was his moral responsibility to act. He said he is drafting another letter to Yadav urging him to call the emergency meeting.

11:30 IST

Amid alarmingly high pollution levels in Delhi, Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday urged the Centre to convene an emergency meeting to tackle the issue and said it is the moral responsibility of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene in the matter. Addressing a press conference, Rai said the Centre has not acted on the Delhi government's repeated requests to allow artificial rain in the national capital and he will again write to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav.

09:47 IST

Delhi Air Pollution Live: Delhi's PM2.5 Levels Surge to Hazardous Levels, Delhites Breathing Air 80 Times More Toxic Than WHO Limit

Air quality in several parts of Delhi deteriorated drastically, with some areas witnessing alarming PM2.5 concentrations. On Monday, Mundka recorded an hourly PM2.5 level of 1,193 micrograms per cubic meter at 1 p.m., which was 20 times above the Indian national air quality standard of 60 micrograms per cubic meter.

This reading also surpassed the World Health Organization's daily safe limit by a staggering 80 times, as the recommended threshold is 15 micrograms per cubic meter. These figures, provided by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, highlight the severe air pollution crisis affecting the city.

08:55 IST

Delhi-NCR Air Pollution Live Updates: 22 Trains Running Late Due To Smog

The trains' movement continues amid smog in Delhi. Visuals from New Delhi Railway Station also show layer of haze covering the area. 22 trains have been running late and 9 trains have been rescheduled as a result of the smog, said the Railways.

08:45 IST

Delhi Air Pollution Live Updates: AQI Remains Severe Plus For 2nd Straight Day

The air quality in the national capital remained in the the 'severe plus' category for the second consecutive day on Tuesday morning, with smog shrouding the city, reducing visibility and worsening air pollution to touch an alarmingly high level of poor AQI. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the national capital recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) at 488 as of 8 am, placing it in the 'severe plus' category.