Delhi's Struggle To Breathe Continues As Air Quality Remains 'Severe', AQI Over 450-Mark In Several Pockets

Several areas in Delhi have surpassed the city's average air quality index with AQI as high as 484 on Friday morning.

Delhi Air Pollution: A hazy layer of smog continues to blanket the national capital and adjoining regions as the air quality index remains in the 'Severe' category with an AQI of 404, as per SAFAR India data. Drone visuals of the Punjabi Bagh posted by ANI show a thick layer of toxic smog covering the skies. Punjabi Bagh recorded an AQI of 484, as per CPCB data at 8 am, worse than the city's average on Friday.

Days of restrictions and bans seem to be not working in the intended way as lung-damaging air makes it difficult for residents of Delhi-NCR to breathe.

Meanwhile, the India Meteorological Department (IMD), said the city air quality stands closer to the 'severe plus', and any sort of respite is unlikely before Nov 21, reported PTI. Increasing air pollution since the right before the winter has been troubling the town despite strict restrictions in place. The BJP-led Centre and AAP's Delhi government have also been at loggerheads over steps being taken to curb the menace as peak winter is still to come.

A brief relief brought by rain before Diwali went off as people flouted SC's ban on cracker bursting bringing back the toxic air and GRAP 4 ban in the region. IGI airport recorded an AQI of 464 while Bawan's AQI stood at 459.

In Noida, the situation is slightly better with air quality in the 'Very Poor' category. Most places in Ghaziabad also recorded 'Very Poor' air, however, the Indirapuram observatory recorded an AQI of 401 (Severe).

Gurugram's sector 51 weather station data as of 8 am showed 'Severe' air quality with AQI 441, according to CPCB while Faridabad also recorded a 'Severe' air quality with an AQI of 432.