Delhi-NCR has activated GRAP Stage II in response to worsening air quality, imposing strict measures to curb pollution and urging residents to use public transport and avoid unnecessary vehicle use.

As the air quality index of national capital Delhi fell to ’very poor’ last week with several monitoring stations approaching the 300 mark, the the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Monday ordered to implement GRAP-II in Delhi-NCR.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and IIT Madras (IITM) predicted that Delhi's air quality could remain in the 'very poor' category between 301-400 in the coming days. IMD and IITM said this could be due to the unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions as well as calm winds.

Delhi's air quality worsens, with AQI at 385, prompting implementation of GRAP-II to combat pollution effectively.

A thick layer of fog was seen in Anand Vihar, Kalkaji, Nehru Place, and Akshardham Temple localities among other places in the national capital, as the city's air quality dropped to 385 at 8 am today.

Delhi's air quality is expected to deteriorate further, with the AQI likely to exceed 400 and fall into the 'severe' category on Tuesday and Wednesday, due to stubble burning in neighbouring states and unfavourable wind conditions.

The second stage of the Graded Response Action Plan has been implemented in the national capital, banning the use of coal and firewood.

Vehicular emissions top cause of air pollution, but stubble burning in neighbouring states aggravates the situation

National capital's average air quality on Monday slipped into the 'very poor' category for the first time in the season, as the residents of the city woke up to a hazy morning with smog also visible at some places.