Toxic Smog Chokes Delhi: AQI 'Severe', GRAP Stage-IV Invoked

• Delhi's air quality slipped to the 'severe' category on December 15, with thick smog enveloping the capital.
• Areas like Ghazipur and Anand Vihar recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 493, classified as 'severe'.
• The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed Stage-IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR.
• GRAP Stage-IV includes halting construction/demolition activities and restricting polluting vehicles.
• Health experts advise residents to avoid outdoor activities and use masks due to hazardous pollution levels.

Why It Matters: Delhi's toxic air triggers emergency actions, threatening public health.