A dense layer of smog enveloped the city of Delhi for the third consecutive day and the Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 420 as of 9 am on Friday morning, according to the SAFAR

Delhi woke up to GRAP Stage III restrictions on Friday, as the city's air quality remained in the "severe" category for the third consecutive day, prompting strict measures to curb pollution levels

The CAQM imposed GRAP Stage III as the national capital recorded the worst pollution levels in the country, with the air quality remaining in the "severe" category for two consecutive days

Prior to entering the "severe" category, Delhi's air quality had been in the ¿very poor¿ range for 14 consecutive days

It directed the authorities in Delhi-NCR to invoke curbs under stage III of the anti-pollution plan with immediate effect

The GRAP for Delhi-NCR is divided into four stages of air quality, Stage 1 for "poor" Air Quality Index (AQI) ranging between 201 and 300, Stage 2 for "very poor" AQI of 301-400, Stage 3 for "severe" AQI of 401-450 and Stage 4 for "severe plus" AQI more than 450

Curbs under Stage III include a ban on non-essential construction and demolition, closure of stone crushers and mining activities in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR)

Under the Stage-IV restrictions of GRAP, all inter-state buses from NCR states, except electric vehicles, CNG vehicles and BS-VI diesel buses, will be prohibited from entering Delhi, alongside a stringent ban on construction and demolition activities, suspension of mining-related activities, consideration of shifting to online classes for students up to Class V and daily water sprinkling on major roads

Meanwhile, out of 39 monitoring stations in Delhi, a total of 27 stations recorded air quality in the 'severe' category, with readings above 40