Delhi: Primary schools shift to hybrid mode, GRAP 3 reimposed as air quality plummets

As the air quality in Delhi plummeted to the “very poor” category on Monday, the Commission for Air Quality Management reimposed emergency measures under stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan, or GRAP, in the National Capital Region, reported ANI.

With this, classes for students up to standard 5 have transitioned into hybrid mode – or both physical and online classes – in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar.

The GRAP is a set of incremental anti-pollution measures that are triggered to prevent the further worsening of air quality once it reaches a certain threshold in the National Capital Region.

Stage 3 of the emergency measure includes a shutdown of all demolition work as well as mining and stone-crushing activities in the National Capital Region. It also mandates a ban on the operation of BS III petrol and BS IV diesel light motor vehicles in Delhi.

At 4 pm on Monday, the average air quality index, or AQI, in Delhi stood at 379, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board.

An index value between 0 and 50 indicates “good” air quality, between 51 and 100 indicates “satisfactory” air quality and between 101 and 200 indicates “moderate” air quality.

As the index value increases further, air quality deteriorates. A...

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