Delhi's Air Quality Hits "Severe" Levels During Chhath Puja, Smog Blankets City

New Delhi: Pollution levels in national capital saw a spike during Chhath Puja on Thursday evening with Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 382 at 6 pm, according to Central Pollution Control Board.

Sixteen wear stations recorded an AQI above 400 with seven more stations seeing air quality deteriorate to a "severe" level by evening.

se include Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, Mundka, Jahangirpuri, Wazirpur, Okhla Phase 2, Punjabi Bagh, Rohini, Sonia Vihar, and Patparganj, among ors.

city's AQI in morning was 367 while 24-hour aver AQI at 4 pm was recorded at 377.

A layer of smog was seen blanketing many areas in city. Mist or smog is expected to cover city at night, according to an IMD forecast.

maximum temperature settled at 31.7 degrees Celsius, two tches above rmal, while humidity level was at 74 per cent at 5:30 pm.

Shallow fog is expected to cover Delhi on Friday, with wear likely to remain warmer.

According to AQI classifications, a range of 0-50 is considered "good," 51-100 "satisfactory," 101-200 "moderate," 201-300 "poor," 301-400 "very poor," and 401-500 “severe.”