The national capital continued to choke with a thick layer of smog on Thursday, with the AQI recorded in the "severe" category for the second consecutive day this season.According to the latest information updated at 8 am at AQICN,

If the city's air quality remains in the "severe" category on Thursday, authorities may impose restrictions under the third stage of the GRAP, including a ban

Delhi's air quality reaches severe levels, with an AQI of 418. Central pollution watchdog cites dense fog as a contributing factor.

Every year, Delhi and northern states battle hazardous air during the winter months of October to January due to plummeting temperatures, smoke, dust, low wind speed, vehicular emissions and crop stubble burning. This time, experts say that the condition is likely to get worse in the coming days.

A dense layer of smog enveloped Delhi and surrounding regions of Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad on Wednesday morning.

A study published in June found that air pollution killed 135 million people over the last four decades around the world, with India and China accounting for the bulk of the fatalities. In 2023, Delhi’s AQI was recorded between 445 and 520 just a day after Diwali, placing it firmly in the “severe” category.

Pregnant women who live in polluted environments are more likely to experience preterm labor, which raises the risk of low birth weight, undeveloped lungs, and infant mortality during or after birth.

Nearly half the families in and around Delhi have sought medical help for respiratory ailments connected to severe pollution engulfing the capital, according to a new survey.

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