Delhi's Air Quality Hits Severe Levels, AQI at 424

Delhi's air quality has reached severe levels, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 424, prompting the enforcement of strict pollution controls and the implementation of Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The Supreme Court has criticized the delay in implementing these measures and emphasized their necessity even if AQI drops below 450. Measures include halting construction, shutting schools, and considering work-from-home policies to mitigate pollution. Meanwhile, political parties like AAP and BJP have included pollution control strategies in their manifestos, though critics argue these remain largely unimplemented. Environmentalists advocate for better public transport and traffic management, while international comparisons illustrate the gravity of the situation, equating breathing Delhi's air to smoking 40 cigarettes a day.