New Delhi: The Singapore High Commission Monday issued a travel advisory for its citizens in New Delhi, urging them to follow authorities’ recommendations related to air pollution and take note of flight cancellations and delays due to smog.
The advisory, the first by the country’s High Commission in India, said that the fourth stage of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) had been enforced in Delhi-NCR.
“In light of the Indian Central Pollution Control Board invoking Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan, the Singapore High Commission has issued the following advisory for Singapore nationals in the Delhi NCR,” Simon Wong, the High Commissioner of Singapore in India, said in a post on X.
The statement said that under GRAP-IV, construction and industrial activities are heavily restricted, and schools and offices are encouraged to shift to hybrid format.
“The Delhi authorities have urged residents to stay indoors, especially children and those with respiratory or cardiac ailments, and to use masks if stepping out. In this regard, the High Commission urges Singapore nationals in the Delhi National Capital Region to pay heed to this advice,” the statement added.
A combination of fog and smog Monday disrupted a number of flights at Delhi’s IGI Airport. On this, the Singapore High Commission said, “Travellers should take note of this, and check with respective airlines for updates.”
Flights from airlines, including Air India and IndiGo, were among those affected.
Apart from Singapore, the UK and Canada Missions in India issued travel advisories related to air pollution in Delhi.
“Severe air pollution is a major health hazard, especially during the winter months from October to February. North Indian cities are most affected by extremely high levels of pollution. Children, the elderly and those with pre-existing medical conditions may be especially affected,” UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) had said in its advisory.
Similarly, the Canadian travel advisory had said, “Smoke haze and other types of air pollution can be extremely hazardous in urban areas and cities such as Delhi. It’s typically at its worst in winter.”
GRAP-IV was imposed Saturday as air pollution in Delhi-NCR inched close to “severe” levels. Average air quality index (AQ) of Delhi was 461 Sunday.
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