India, Jan. 17 -- The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR on Friday invoked Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) amid forecasts suggesting the air quality index (AQI) in the city and surrounding areas will see a further deterioration over the weekend.

Delhi's 24-hour average AQI was recorded at 354 ("very poor") on Friday afternoon, worsening from 343 the previous day.

"Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality, and in an effort to prevent further deterioration of air quality in the region, the sub-committee has taken the call to invoke all actions as envisaged under Stage 3 of Grap . with immediate effect in the entire NCR, as a proactive measure," a CAQM order issued on Friday stated.

Grap has f...