The overall air quality in Delhi and its adjoining areas <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/delhi-witnesses-public-health-emergency-as-air-quality-dips-to-severe-258952#curb-on-outdoor-activities-258945">remained in 'very poor' category</a> on Friday, according&nbsp;to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

In Delhi's Lodhi Road area, the air quality was in the 'moderate' category with major pollutants PM 2.5 at 261 and PM 10 at 249, according to the air quality index. While in Anand Vihar area, it remained in the 'hazardous' with PM 10 at 466 and PM 2.5 at 393.

During winter season each year, most of northern India suffers from a spike in toxicity in the air due to the change in weather patterns and crop residue burning in the neighbouring states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

Not only that, but a dip in temperature along with low wind speed also tends to trap air pollutants closer to the ground.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, on Thursday, environment minister<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/several-initiatives-have-been-taken-to-abate-control-air-pollution-in-delhi-ncr-prakash-javadekar-263629"> Prakash Javadekar told Rajya Sabha</a> that several initiatives have been taken to "abate and control air pollution in Delhi/NCR".

Javadekar told the Upper House that a high-level task force was constituted under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister for the same and that "regular review meetings have been held," news agency ANI quoted the minister.&nbsp;

The minister also said that a comprehensive air plan for Delhi NCR has been developed, "identifying the timelines and implementing agencies for actions delineated".&nbsp;

He also said that the Central government has notified a graded response action plan for Delhi/NCR for different levels of pollution.

The overall air quality in Delhi and its adjoining areas remained in 'very poor' category on Friday, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

The overall air quality in Delhi and its adjoining areas remained in 'very poor' category on Friday, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). In Delhi's Lodhi Road area, the air quality was in the 'moderate' category with major pollutants PM 2.5 at 261 and PM 10 at 249, according to the air quality index. While in Anand Vihar area, it remained in the 'hazardous' with PM 10 at 466 and PM 2.5 at 393. During winter season each year, most of northern India suffers from a spike in toxicity in the air due to the change in weather patterns and crop residue burning in the neighbouring states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Not only that, but a dip in temperature along with low wind speed also tends to trap air pollutants closer to the ground. Meanwhile, on Thursday, environment minister Prakash Javadekar told Rajya Sabha that several initiatives have been taken to "abate and control air pollution in Delhi/NCR". Javadekar told the Upper House that a high-level task force was constituted under the chairmanship of the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister for the same and that "regular review meetings have been held," news agency ANI quoted the minister. The minister also said that a comprehensive air plan for Delhi NCR has been developed, "identifying the timelines and implementing agencies for actions delineated". He also said that the Central government has notified a graded response action plan for Delhi/NCR for different levels of pollution.

Delhi gasps for breath as pollution remains in 'very poor' category

After days of 'severe' and <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-pollution-air-quality-index-remains-in-very-poor-category-for-second-consecutive-day-262655">'very poor' air quality</a>, Delhi and its nearby areas witnessed a change with AQI improving to the 'poor' category in the morning on Tuesday.

According to SAFAR, this relief from toxic air is temporary as the wind speed is going to slow down from November 20. Due to this, the air quality is likely to plunge to the 'severe' category on Thursday (November 21).

"Pollutant accumulation leading to quick deterioration is predicted by November 20th and the probability of AQI touching the lower end of SEVERE category on 21st November is high," stated the organisation in its advisory.

Today, the overall <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/govt-to-decide-extending-odd-even-if-air-quality-in-delhi-doesnt-improve-in-2-3-days-arvind-kejriwal-262285">air quality of Delhi</a> was recorded at 218, with PM 10 at 155 and PM 2.5 at 67. People of the city expressed happiness over the improved air quality. "The pollution levels have definitely come down. The air is much cleaner today," said a resident of the city.

The Center-run SAFAR has advised people to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. "Take more breaks and do less intense activities. Asthmatics, keep medicine ready if symptoms of coughing or shortness of breath occur. Heart patients, see a doctor if you get palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue," it said in an advisory.

After days of 'severe' and 'very poor' air quality, Delhi and its nearby areas witnessed a change with AQI improving to the 'poor' category in the morning on Tuesday.

After days of 'severe' and 'very poor' air quality, Delhi and its nearby areas witnessed a change with AQI improving to the 'poor' category in the morning on Tuesday. According to SAFAR, this relief from toxic air is temporary as the wind speed is going to slow down from November 20. Due to this, the air quality is likely to plunge to the 'severe' category on Thursday (November 21). "Pollutant accumulation leading to quick deterioration is predicted by November 20th and the probability of AQI touching the lower end of SEVERE category on 21st November is high," stated the organisation in its advisory. Today, the overall air quality of Delhi was recorded at 218, with PM 10 at 155 and PM 2.5 at 67. People of the city expressed happiness over the improved air quality. "The pollution levels have definitely come down. The air is much cleaner today," said a resident of the city. The Center-run SAFAR has advised people to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. "Take more breaks and do less intense activities. Asthmatics, keep medicine ready if symptoms of coughing or shortness of breath occur. Heart patients, see a doctor if you get palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue," it said in an advisory.

Air quality improves slightly in Delhi, SAFAR says relief temporary

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday extended the day's proceedings of the Lower House of the Parliament by half-an-hour over the debate on air pollution.

The Lok Sabha Speaker today expressed displeasure over the absence of Parliament officers and staff during important discussions or sittings in the House. He has also issued a notice to them asking for a reply.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Gautam Gambhir said, "The topic of discussion is something that affects everyone irrespective of our caste, creed, age and religion. It's affecting us while we stand and talk about it in Parliament. It's high time we stop politicising this issue."

"The state is that of a climate emergency - Delhi is the worst affected. The state can no longer get away with gimmick like Odd-Even and banning construction sites. We need long term sustainable solutions and stop the blame game. It's time to own up and act responsibly," he added.

On the issue of stubble burning, Gambhir said, "We have to devise a strategy for representatives of various states to work together to solve this crisis. Merely penalizing farmers for burning their crops will not be enough. We have to start exploring innovative ways."

BJP MPs Ramesh Bidhuri and Hans Raj Hans did not attend the debate over air pollution in the Lok Sabha, while Union Minister and MP Harsh Vardhan was speaking in the Rajya Sabha on the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019.

During the debate, BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said that all that he has given to Delhi for free is pollution.

"For the last 4.5 years, the Delhi Chief Minister kept saying that the Prime Minister doesn't let him work, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor doesn't let him work. In the last six months everyone is letting him work, he is distributing everything for free," Verma said.

"Aaj jo usne (Delhi Chief Minister) Delhi ko diya hai ki 5 saal pehle akela Delhi Chief Minister khaasta tha, aaj poori Dilli khaas rahi hai. All he has given to Delhi for free is pollution," he added. 
After days of 'severe' and 'very poor' air quality, Delhi and its nearby areas witnessed a change with AQI improving to the 'poor' category on Tuesday.

Today, the overall air quality of Delhi was recorded at 218, with PM 10 at 155 and PM 2.5 at 67.&nbsp;

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday extended the day's proceedings of the Lower House of the Parliament by half-an-hour over the debate on air pollution. The Lok Sabha Speaker today expressed displeasure over the absence of Parliament officers and staff during important discussions or sittings in the House.

Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Tuesday extended the day's proceedings of the Lower House of the Parliament by half-an-hour over the debate on air pollution. The Lok Sabha Speaker today expressed displeasure over the absence of Parliament officers and staff during important discussions or sittings in the House. He has also issued a notice to them asking for a reply. Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Gautam Gambhir said, "The topic of discussion is something that affects everyone irrespective of our caste, creed, age and religion. It's affecting us while we stand and talk about it in Parliament. It's high time we stop politicising this issue." "The state is that of a climate emergency - Delhi is the worst affected. The state can no longer get away with gimmick like Odd-Even and banning construction sites. We need long term sustainable solutions and stop the blame game. It's time to own up and act responsibly," he added. On the issue of stubble burning, Gambhir said, "We have to devise a strategy for representatives of various states to work together to solve this crisis. Merely penalizing farmers for burning their crops will not be enough. We have to start exploring innovative ways." BJP MPs Ramesh Bidhuri and Hans Raj Hans did not attend the debate over air pollution in the Lok Sabha, while Union Minister and MP Harsh Vardhan was speaking in the Rajya Sabha on the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019. During the debate, BJP MP Parvesh Sahib Singh Verma slammed Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and said that all that he has given to Delhi for free is pollution. "For the last 4.5 years, the Delhi Chief Minister kept saying that the Prime Minister doesn't let him work, the Delhi Lieutenant Governor doesn't let him work. In the last six months everyone is letting him work, he is distributing everything for free," Verma said. "Aaj jo usne (Delhi Chief Minister) Delhi ko diya hai ki 5 saal pehle akela Delhi Chief Minister khaasta tha, aaj poori Dilli khaas rahi hai. All he has given to Delhi for free is pollution," he added. After days of 'severe' and 'very poor' air quality, Delhi and its nearby areas witnessed a change with AQI improving to the 'poor' category on Tuesday. Today, the overall air quality of Delhi was recorded at 218, with PM 10 at 155 and PM 2.5 at 67.

Lok Sabha extended for half-an-hour over air pollution debate

Asserting that the air quality of the national capital and other cities has worsened beyond all norms, President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said hydrocarbon energy has changed the world's face in the last couple of centuries and now it is threatening 'our very existence'.

Speaking at the conference of IITs, NITs and IIEST, Shibpur hosted by Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kovind said, "This is that time of the year when the air quality of the national capital as well as of many other cities worsens beyond all norms. We are facing a kind of challenge here that we have never faced before. Hydrocarbon energy changed the face of the world in the last couple of centuries, but now it is threatening our very existence. The challenge is compounded for nations battling to bring substantial sections of populations out of poverty. Yet, we will have to find alternatives."

The President said that many scientists and futurologists have painted doomsday scenarios. "On days of smog and poor visibility in our cities, we fear the future might already be here."

He expressed confidence that institutions like IITs, NITs with their various specialisations, would take care to create a sensitivity and awareness among students and researchers towards our common future.

"Our government has made focused efforts to improve India's ranking on the Ease of Doing Business Index, and now it aims to improve the Ease of Living for all citizens."

This Conference is part of regular interactions of the President with such institutions in his capacity as a visitor to 152 Central Universities and institutions of higher learning.

Apart from the Directors of 23 IITs, 31 NITs and IIEST, it was also attended by the Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Secretary (Higher Education), Secretary, Department of Science and Technology and Chairman AICTE.&nbsp;

Asserting that the air quality of the national capital and other cities has worsened beyond all norms, President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said hydrocarbon energy has changed the world's face in the last couple of centuries and now it is threatening 'our very existence'.

Asserting that the air quality of the national capital and other cities has worsened beyond all norms, President Ram Nath Kovind on Tuesday said hydrocarbon energy has changed the world's face in the last couple of centuries and now it is threatening 'our very existence'. Speaking at the conference of IITs, NITs and IIEST, Shibpur hosted by Rashtrapati Bhavan, Kovind said, "This is that time of the year when the air quality of the national capital as well as of many other cities worsens beyond all norms. We are facing a kind of challenge here that we have never faced before. Hydrocarbon energy changed the face of the world in the last couple of centuries, but now it is threatening our very existence. The challenge is compounded for nations battling to bring substantial sections of populations out of poverty. Yet, we will have to find alternatives." The President said that many scientists and futurologists have painted doomsday scenarios. "On days of smog and poor visibility in our cities, we fear the future might already be here." He expressed confidence that institutions like IITs, NITs with their various specialisations, would take care to create a sensitivity and awareness among students and researchers towards our common future. "Our government has made focused efforts to improve India's ranking on the Ease of Doing Business Index, and now it aims to improve the Ease of Living for all citizens." This Conference is part of regular interactions of the President with such institutions in his capacity as a visitor to 152 Central Universities and institutions of higher learning. Apart from the Directors of 23 IITs, 31 NITs and IIEST, it was also attended by the Union Minister for Human Resource Development, Minister of State in the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Secretary (Higher Education), Secretary, Department of Science and Technology and Chairman AICTE.

Air quality of national capital has worsened beyond all norms: President Kovind

Known to have an active voice about environmental issues, Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has now extended his support to groups who are working to raise awareness about pollution in Delhi. Leo took to Instagram to share images of a protest that recently took place in India Gate, Delhi to demand govt's action on the growing pollution in the city.&nbsp; 
 
The Oscar-winning actor gave a push to the efforts of the groups with an Instagram post, “ Over 1500 citizens gathered in at India Gate, in New Dehli, to demand immediate action on the cities hazardous pollution levels. According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution in India is estimated to kill about 1.5 million people every year; these statistics make air pollution the fifth-largest killer in India.”

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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B5Av6eolKYJ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">#Regram #RG @extinctionrebellion: Over 1500 citizens gathered in at India Gate, in New Dehli, to demand immediate action on the cities hazardous pollution levels.⁣ ⁣ According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution in India is estimated to kill about 1.5 million people every year; these statistics make air pollution the fifth-largest killer in India. ⁣ ⁣ People of all ages joined the demonstration, which succeeded to directly trigger action for Indian citizens:⁣ 1. The Indian Prime Ministers office set up a special panel to address the issue, within a few hours of the protest. The panel is due to report on the issue within 2 weeks.⁣ 2. The Supreme Court of India asked the Central Government and respective state governments to fix the crop and waste burning issue of Dehli within a week. ⁣ 3. The Center accepted that Green Fund will be used to combat toxic air pollution. ⁣ 4. The Indian Prime Minister asked the Agriculture Ministry to distribute equipment urgently so that crop burning is no longer necessary. ⁣ ⁣ Despite these promises, the air is still unsafe and activists will keep the pressure on until the air pollution reaches safe levels. ⁣ ⁣ The protest was organised by a collaboration of movements; @xrebellionind @LetMeBreathe_In @FridaysForFutureIndia_ along with other activists. ⁣ ⁣ Photography by Arjun Mahatta and co, via @FridaysForFuture ⁣ ⁣ #RightToBreathe #ExtinctionRebellion #IndiaGate #SolutionNotPollution #ActNow #RebelForLife</a>

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"People of all ages joined the demonstration, which succeeded to directly trigger action for Indian citizens," DiCaprio wrote, adding, "The Indian Prime Minister’s office set up a special panel to address the issue, within a few hours of the protest. The panel is due to report on the issue within two weeks." 
 
DiCaprio mentioned climate activist group, Extinction Rebellion and listed how the government is tackling the problem, adding, “Despite these promises, the air is still unsafe and activists will keep the pressure on until the air pollution reaches safe levels." 
 
The post has already garnered over 6 lakh likes including one from actress Jennifer Aniston.&nbsp; 
 
The actor has always advocated about climate change and even spoke about it during his acceptance speech when he won the Best Actor Oscar in 2016. Earlier DiCaprio had also expressed concern during the Chennai water crisis. DiCaprio also has the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) which raises awareness about environmental issues.&nbsp; 
 
Delhi has been battling air pollution with air quality reaching a hazardous level in the past few weeks. &nbsp;The AI index has had a serious health impact on many. The AQI had touched 494 on November 3, the most hazardous level since 2016.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Known to have an active voice about environmental issues, Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has now extended his support to groups who are working to raise awareness about pollution in Delhi.

Known to have an active voice about environmental issues, Hollywood star Leonardo DiCaprio has now extended his support to groups who are working to raise awareness about pollution in Delhi. Leo took to Instagram to share images of a protest that recently took place in India Gate, Delhi to demand govt's action on the growing pollution in the city. The Oscar-winning actor gave a push to the efforts of the groups with an Instagram post, “ Over 1500 citizens gathered in at India Gate, in New Dehli, to demand immediate action on the cities hazardous pollution levels. According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution in India is estimated to kill about 1.5 million people every year; these statistics make air pollution the fifth-largest killer in India.” View this post on Instagram #Regram #RG @extinctionrebellion: Over 1500 citizens gathered in at India Gate, in New Dehli, to demand immediate action on the cities hazardous pollution levels.⁣ ⁣ According to the World Health Organisation, air pollution in India is estimated to kill about 1.5 million people every year; these statistics make air pollution the fifth-largest killer in India. ⁣ ⁣ People of all ages joined the demonstration, which succeeded to directly trigger action for Indian citizens:⁣ 1. The Indian Prime Ministers office set up a special panel to address the issue, within a few hours of the protest. The panel is due to report on the issue within 2 weeks.⁣ 2. The Supreme Court of India asked the Central Government and respective state governments to fix the crop and waste burning issue of Dehli within a week. ⁣ 3. The Center accepted that Green Fund will be used to combat toxic air pollution. ⁣ 4. The Indian Prime Minister asked the Agriculture Ministry to distribute equipment urgently so that crop burning is no longer necessary. ⁣ ⁣ Despite these promises, the air is still unsafe and activists will keep the pressure on until the air pollution reaches safe levels. ⁣ ⁣ The protest was organised by a collaboration of movements; @xrebellionind @LetMeBreathe_In @FridaysForFutureIndia_ along with other activists. ⁣ ⁣ Photography by Arjun Mahatta and co, via @FridaysForFuture ⁣ ⁣ #RightToBreathe #ExtinctionRebellion #IndiaGate #SolutionNotPollution #ActNow #RebelForLife A post shared by Leonardo DiCaprio (@leonardodicaprio) on Nov 18, 2019 at 7:24am PST × "People of all ages joined the demonstration, which succeeded to directly trigger action for Indian citizens," DiCaprio wrote, adding, "The Indian Prime Minister’s office set up a special panel to address the issue, within a few hours of the protest. The panel is due to report on the issue within two weeks." DiCaprio mentioned climate activist group, Extinction Rebellion and listed how the government is tackling the problem, adding, “Despite these promises, the air is still unsafe and activists will keep the pressure on until the air pollution reaches safe levels." The post has already garnered over 6 lakh likes including one from actress Jennifer Aniston. The actor has always advocated about climate change and even spoke about it during his acceptance speech when he won the Best Actor Oscar in 2016. Earlier DiCaprio had also expressed concern during the Chennai water crisis. DiCaprio also has the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation (LDF) which raises awareness about environmental issues. Delhi has been battling air pollution with air quality reaching a hazardous level in the past few weeks. The AI index has had a serious health impact on many. The AQI had touched 494 on November 3, the most hazardous level since 2016.

Leonardo DiCaprio raises awareness on Instagram about Delhi's air pollution

There has been a 10-15 per cent rise in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease in the past few days after Delhi's air pollution levels rose sharply, said a cardiologist at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

"The current situation in Delhi is very critical. The PM levels are reaching up to 800. Around 10-15 per cent rise in cardiological patients has been registered," Dr Tarun, Cardiologist, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital said.

He also suggested ways to combat air pollution.

"People should remain indoors and increase uptake of anti-oxidants which are found in abundance in fruits. Whenever one has to go out then the usage of N95 mask is mandatory because it is the only mask which protects from PM pollution. People should improve the environment at the homes by having some plants like money plant, snake plant etc. Finally, if it is affordable then air purifier should be used in the homes," the doctor added.

The air pollution levels in Delhi and its adjoining areas remained in the 'severe'&nbsp;category for the third consecutive day despite the implementation of the Odd-Even scheme.

Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram, and Noida were engulfed by a thick blanket of smog in the morning today, which reduced visibility on the roads and caused problems to commuters.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital on Friday was recorded at 482 which falls under the 'Severe'&nbsp;category with PM10 being 504 and PM2.5 - 332, according to Center-run SAFAR.

The AQI recorded near Mathura Road in Delhi was 554 (PM10) at 9:00 am on Friday, while near the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, the AQI stood at 560 (PM10), Chandni Chowk recorded an AQI of 484 (PM10) and 488 ( PM2.5).

There has been a 10-15 per cent rise in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease in the past few days after Delhi's air pollution levels rose sharply, said a cardiologist at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.

There has been a 10-15 per cent rise in patients suffering from cardiovascular disease in the past few days after Delhi's air pollution levels rose sharply, said a cardiologist at Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. "The current situation in Delhi is very critical. The PM levels are reaching up to 800. Around 10-15 per cent rise in cardiological patients has been registered," Dr Tarun, Cardiologist, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital said. He also suggested ways to combat air pollution. "People should remain indoors and increase uptake of anti-oxidants which are found in abundance in fruits. Whenever one has to go out then the usage of N95 mask is mandatory because it is the only mask which protects from PM pollution. People should improve the environment at the homes by having some plants like money plant, snake plant etc. Finally, if it is affordable then air purifier should be used in the homes," the doctor added. The air pollution levels in Delhi and its adjoining areas remained in the 'severe' category for the third consecutive day despite the implementation of the Odd-Even scheme. Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Gurugram, and Noida were engulfed by a thick blanket of smog in the morning today, which reduced visibility on the roads and caused problems to commuters. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital on Friday was recorded at 482 which falls under the 'Severe' category with PM10 being 504 and PM2.5 - 332, according to Center-run SAFAR. The AQI recorded near Mathura Road in Delhi was 554 (PM10) at 9:00 am on Friday, while near the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport, the AQI stood at 560 (PM10), Chandni Chowk recorded an AQI of 484 (PM10) and 488 ( PM2.5).

Air pollution leading to 10-15% spike in patients with cardiac disease, says doctor

The Supreme Court on Friday called the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/govt-to-decide-extending-odd-even-if-air-quality-in-delhi-doesnt-improve-in-2-3-days-arvind-kejriwal-262285">odd-even rationing scheme </a>"half-baked" and said that it might not be a solution to control the deteriorating air quality in the national capital. The apex court said that despite the implementation of the scheme, the pollution levels have continued to increase.

Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Delhi government, told the court that if certain exemptions are removed, it will help. "We are trying to work it out further. If two-wheelers are not allowed, the city will come to a standstill," he said. He further said that stubble burning is the main cause of air pollution.

The court pulled up AAP-led Delhi government and asked it to apprise it about the effect of the scheme on air pollution levels. "Even Delhi government's affidavit says we have not conducted such study on the odd-even. It's a halfway solution, either it's full odd-even or no odd-even, there has to be no exemption. We don't know whether it's really working or not," the top court said.

It added, "Delhi is suffering badly, the AQI is almost 600 even today. How do people breathe?"

The court also directed the Centre to prepare a road map for installation of air-purifying towers to deal with the pollution crisis in the national capital. The air pollution levels in Delhi and its adjoining areas remained in the 'severe'&nbsp;category today for the third consecutive day.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded at 482 which falls under the 'Severe'&nbsp;category with PM10 being 504 and PM2.5 - 332, according to Center-run SAFAR.&nbsp;

The Supreme Court on Friday called the odd-even rationing scheme "half-baked" and said that it might not be a solution to control the deteriorating air quality in the national capital.

The Supreme Court on Friday called the odd-even rationing scheme "half-baked" and said that it might not be a solution to control the deteriorating air quality in the national capital. The apex court said that despite the implementation of the scheme, the pollution levels have continued to increase. Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Delhi government, told the court that if certain exemptions are removed, it will help. "We are trying to work it out further. If two-wheelers are not allowed, the city will come to a standstill," he said. He further said that stubble burning is the main cause of air pollution. The court pulled up AAP-led Delhi government and asked it to apprise it about the effect of the scheme on air pollution levels. "Even Delhi government's affidavit says we have not conducted such study on the odd-even. It's a halfway solution, either it's full odd-even or no odd-even, there has to be no exemption. We don't know whether it's really working or not," the top court said. It added, "Delhi is suffering badly, the AQI is almost 600 even today. How do people breathe?" The court also directed the Centre to prepare a road map for installation of air-purifying towers to deal with the pollution crisis in the national capital. The air pollution levels in Delhi and its adjoining areas remained in the 'severe' category today for the third consecutive day. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was recorded at 482 which falls under the 'Severe' category with PM10 being 504 and PM2.5 - 332, according to Center-run SAFAR.

Supreme Court again pulls up Delhi govt, says odd-even not a solution to air pollution

The toxic air in the capital city and its adjoining areas maintained its intensity as the air quality observed on early Friday was still in the "severe" mark. Visuals of deadly smog were witnessed in <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-air-pollution-peaks-in-delhi-schools-to-remain-shut-for-two-days-261891">Delhi</a> this morning which significantly lowered the visibility.&nbsp;

In Delhi and its neighbouring areas, the air quality index (AQI) was maximum in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Nehru Nagar, and Dwarka Sector 8 with indices of 498, 497 and 496, which was very close to the emergency mark of 500, at 9 am as per the data shared by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The AQI readings in other areas of Delhi NCR were: ITO 490, Sirifort 495, Pusa Delhi 491, Aurobindo Marg 489, Wazirpur 472, and RK Puram 459.&nbsp;

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Haryana: Smog engulfs the city as <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AirQuality?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AirQuality</a> worsens in Gurugram. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/AirPollution?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#AirPollution</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ir8vGlKEjL">pic.twitter.com/Ir8vGlKEjL</a>
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An AQI of 0-50 is considered "good", 51-100 "satisfactory", 101-200 "moderate", 201-300 "poor", 301-400 "very poor", 401-500 "severe" and 500 and above "very severe" or "emergency".

In <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/gurugram-struggles-to-breathe-as-air-quality-crosses-700-262316">Gurugram</a>,&nbsp;a city that is a part of Delhi NCR, observed an AQI of over 700 in the morning, which is way above the "emergency" level. The visibility was extremely low in the city and residents complained of suffocation, breathlessness and irritation in the eyes.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Watch Video:

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/delhis-air-quality-deteriorates-to-450-schools-to-remain-shut-till-15th-nov-261936/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Delhi residents are not likely to get any relief from air pollution as experts said that the western disturbance will continue to influence the atmosphere which is the reason behind&nbsp;dense cloud cover and a fall in wind speed.

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Delhi: Thick layer of smog blankets several areas in the national capital; Visuals from All India Institute of Medical Sciences and National Highway-24 <a href="https://t.co/btxvdx6LMQ">pic.twitter.com/btxvdx6LMQ</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1195169745370152962?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 15, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Today is also the last day of Delhi government's odd-even rationing scheme. The government is mulling over the extension of the scheme. As per the odd-even rules, cars with even and odd registration numbers are allowed to run in the streets of Delhi on alternate days. Two-wheelers and women-only vehicles with children upto 12 years of age are exempted from this scheme. &nbsp;

Earlier, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-air-pollution-peaks-in-delhi-schools-to-remain-shut-for-two-days-261891">schools in Delhi </a>were again asked to shut down for two days till November 15 due to the deteriorating pollution levels.

The Supreme Court had also ordered Centre to explore <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-directs-centre-to-explore-hydrogen-based-fuel-technology-to-combat-air-pollution-261858">Hydrogen-based fuel technology </a>to tackle air pollution. The apex court had also pulled up governments of northern Indian states for not doing enough to control pollution.&nbsp;

The practice of stubble burning where farmers set residue on fire after harvesting is one of the prime contributors to pollution. Various packages to farmers are also announced in order to stop stubble burning. The relief from farm fires is expected to come by the end of November as wheat sowing has already covered nearly 60 per cent.

(with inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

The toxic air in the capital city and its adjoining areas maintained its intensity as the air quality observed on early Friday was still in the "severe" mark. Visuals of deadly smog were witnessed in Delhi this morning which significantly lowered the visibility.

The toxic air in the capital city and its adjoining areas maintained its intensity as the air quality observed on early Friday was still in the "severe" mark. Visuals of deadly smog were witnessed in Delhi this morning which significantly lowered the visibility. In Delhi and its neighbouring areas, the air quality index (AQI) was maximum in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Nehru Nagar, and Dwarka Sector 8 with indices of 498, 497 and 496, which was very close to the emergency mark of 500, at 9 am as per the data shared by Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The AQI readings in other areas of Delhi NCR were: ITO 490, Sirifort 495, Pusa Delhi 491, Aurobindo Marg 489, Wazirpur 472, and RK Puram 459. Haryana: Smog engulfs the city as #AirQuality worsens in Gurugram. #AirPollution pic.twitter.com/Ir8vGlKEjL — ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2019 × An AQI of 0-50 is considered "good", 51-100 "satisfactory", 101-200 "moderate", 201-300 "poor", 301-400 "very poor", 401-500 "severe" and 500 and above "very severe" or "emergency". In Gurugram, a city that is a part of Delhi NCR, observed an AQI of over 700 in the morning, which is way above the "emergency" level. The visibility was extremely low in the city and residents complained of suffocation, breathlessness and irritation in the eyes. Watch Video: Delhi residents are not likely to get any relief from air pollution as experts said that the western disturbance will continue to influence the atmosphere which is the reason behind dense cloud cover and a fall in wind speed. Delhi: Thick layer of smog blankets several areas in the national capital; Visuals from All India Institute of Medical Sciences and National Highway-24 pic.twitter.com/btxvdx6LMQ — ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2019 × Today is also the last day of Delhi government's odd-even rationing scheme. The government is mulling over the extension of the scheme. As per the odd-even rules, cars with even and odd registration numbers are allowed to run in the streets of Delhi on alternate days. Two-wheelers and women-only vehicles with children upto 12 years of age are exempted from this scheme. Earlier, schools in Delhi were again asked to shut down for two days till November 15 due to the deteriorating pollution levels. The Supreme Court had also ordered Centre to explore Hydrogen-based fuel technology to tackle air pollution. The apex court had also pulled up governments of northern Indian states for not doing enough to control pollution. The practice of stubble burning where farmers set residue on fire after harvesting is one of the prime contributors to pollution. Various packages to farmers are also announced in order to stop stubble burning. The relief from farm fires is expected to come by the end of November as wheat sowing has already covered nearly 60 per cent. (with inputs from agencies)

Pollution continues to hurt Delhi as air quality nears 'emergency' mark

Delhi once again woke up with no respite from toxic air as the air quality continued to remain under the "severe" category in most parts and neared hitting&nbsp;the emergency mark in some regions.&nbsp;

As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, at 7 am, the air quality index (AQI) of Dwarka Sector 8, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, was&nbsp;496 and 492 respectively, which is very close to the "emergency'' category. It should be noted that an AQI of 500 or more falls under "severe" or "emergency" category. In many parts of Delhi and its adjoining areas, the air quality remained under "severe" category.&nbsp;

An AQI of 0-50 is considered as "good", 51-100 "satisfactory", 101-200 "moderate", 201-300 "poor", 301-400 "very poor" and 401-500 "severe". &nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;

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Delhi: A layer of smog blankets the national capital this morning; visuals from Akshardham. <a href="https://t.co/hYB1I4QFR9">pic.twitter.com/hYB1I4QFR9</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1194797854495166464?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 14, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The air quality dipped to the "severe" stage late on Tuesday after the odd-even rationing scheme was lifted due to the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. The odd-even is a scheme where cars with even and odd number plates are allowed to run on alternate days. The odd-even restrictions are not on two-wheelers and electric vehicles. Women only vehicles with children upto 12 years are also exempted under the odd-even rule.

Due to rising pollution levels, Delhi government on Wednesday once again ordered&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/as-air-pollution-peaks-in-delhi-schools-to-remain-shut-for-two-days-261891">schools </a>to be shut for two days till November 15. Schools in Delhi were already closed for an extended period due to pollution post-Diwali and reopened on November 5. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also hinted at&nbsp;extending the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/arvind-kejriwal-hints-at-extending-odd-even-scheme-as-national-capitals-air-quality-deteriorates-261805">odd-even scheme</a>.

Earlier. the Supreme Court had pulled up Centre and government of northern Indian states for their inability to curb pollution. The apex court also ordered a complete halt to stubble burning, a major contributor to the toxic air and announced incentives to the farmers for discontinuing this practice. Despite SC's order, the practice is continued in many regions.

Stubble burning is a practice where the residues of the crops are burnt once the crop is harvested.&nbsp;

As winter arrives in northern India, residents have to deal with the menace of air pollution as the pollutants enter the thick air and don't disappear quickly. Stubble burning and industrial and construction activities all contribute to the deteriorating air quality.

Delhi once again woke up with no respite from toxic air as the air quality continued to remain under the "severe" category in most parts and neared hitting the emergency mark in some regions.

Delhi once again woke up with no respite from toxic air as the air quality continued to remain under the "severe" category in most parts and neared hitting the emergency mark in some regions. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, at 7 am, the air quality index (AQI) of Dwarka Sector 8, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, was 496 and 492 respectively, which is very close to the "emergency'' category. It should be noted that an AQI of 500 or more falls under "severe" or "emergency" category. In many parts of Delhi and its adjoining areas, the air quality remained under "severe" category. An AQI of 0-50 is considered as "good", 51-100 "satisfactory", 101-200 "moderate", 201-300 "poor", 301-400 "very poor" and 401-500 "severe". Delhi: A layer of smog blankets the national capital this morning; visuals from Akshardham. pic.twitter.com/hYB1I4QFR9 — ANI (@ANI) November 14, 2019 × The air quality dipped to the "severe" stage late on Tuesday after the odd-even rationing scheme was lifted due to the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. The odd-even is a scheme where cars with even and odd number plates are allowed to run on alternate days. The odd-even restrictions are not on two-wheelers and electric vehicles. Women only vehicles with children upto 12 years are also exempted under the odd-even rule. Due to rising pollution levels, Delhi government on Wednesday once again ordered schools to be shut for two days till November 15. Schools in Delhi were already closed for an extended period due to pollution post-Diwali and reopened on November 5. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal also hinted at extending the odd-even scheme. Earlier. the Supreme Court had pulled up Centre and government of northern Indian states for their inability to curb pollution. The apex court also ordered a complete halt to stubble burning, a major contributor to the toxic air and announced incentives to the farmers for discontinuing this practice. Despite SC's order, the practice is continued in many regions. Stubble burning is a practice where the residues of the crops are burnt once the crop is harvested. As winter arrives in northern India, residents have to deal with the menace of air pollution as the pollutants enter the thick air and don't disappear quickly. Stubble burning and industrial and construction activities all contribute to the deteriorating air quality.

No respite from toxic air as Delhi's air quality nears 'emergency' mark

The menace of air pollution has once again caused alarm in the national capital as air quality dipped to "severe" category on Wednesday morning and is expected to enter the 'very severe' or emergency category, according to&nbsp;overall air quality index (AQI).

In Delhi, the overall air quality index docked at 467 at 7:00 AM on Wednesday morning, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

There was no respite for residents in the National Capital Region (NCR) too as the air quality recorded in 
Noida, Greater Noida and Faridabad stood at 472, 458 and 441 respectively. Visuals of thick and dense smog were observed in Delhi and its adjoining areas in the morning.&nbsp;

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A layer of smog covers <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a> this morning. Visuals from around Lodhi Road, Akshardham and Sarai Kale Khan. <a href="https://t.co/PocONdRr7p">pic.twitter.com/PocONdRr7p</a>
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SAFAR also added that the air quality is expected to further deteriorate in the next two days and will fall under 'severe plus' category. The worsening situation may improve by November 15.

An AQI in the range of 201 to 300 is considered 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe' and above 500 'severe plus'.&nbsp;

However, there was a decreasing trend in stubble burning, which is a major contributor to air pollution as per a methodology used by SAFAR.

As per officials in the weather department, Delhi witnessed a temperature of 11.7 degree Celsius on Tuesday morning, its lowest so far this season.&nbsp;

As the temperature lowers, it becomes easier for the pollutants to mix up and make the air toxic. This phenomenon results in smog, a foggy air which has the presence of pollutants.&nbsp;

As per the Central Pollution Control Bureau (CPCB), Delhi's overall AQI read 425 at 4 pm and 437 at 9 pm on Tuesday. The levels of PM 2.5, a deadly pollutant that can enter into lungs, breached the emergency mark of 300 micrograms per cubic metre and stood at 337 late on Tuesday. PM 10 was also five times higher than the safe limit of 100 micrograms per cubic metre.&nbsp;

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A layer of smog covers the sky, in Ghaziabad this morning. Air Quality Index (AQI) in Indirapuram area is at 465, Loni at 475, Sanjay Nagar at 469 and Vasundhara at 479 - all in 'Severe' category. <a href="https://t.co/gjQVDMN374">pic.twitter.com/gjQVDMN374</a>
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The situation of pollution worsened in Delhi yesterday as the Delhi government lifted restrictions on the odd-even scheme due to the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. The odd-even is a rationing scheme where cars with odd and even number plates are allowed to run in the streets on alternate days.

Last week, the apex court pulled up Centre and state governments of northern Indian states for their inability to curb pollution. With the arrival of winter, the situation of air pollution worsens in northern India due to factors such as stubble burning and industrial pollution among others.

Stubble burning is a practice followed by Indian farmers where residues after harvesting are set on fire. The Supreme Court had earlier ordered a complete halt in stubble burning and announced incentives too in order to curb this menace.&nbsp;

(with inputs from agencies)

The menace of air pollution has once again caused alarm in the national capital as air quality dipped to "severe" category on Wednesday morning and is expected to enter the 'very severe' or emergency category, according to overall air quality index (AQI).

The menace of air pollution has once again caused alarm in the national capital as air quality dipped to "severe" category on Wednesday morning and is expected to enter the 'very severe' or emergency category, according to overall air quality index (AQI). In Delhi, the overall air quality index docked at 467 at 7:00 AM on Wednesday morning, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). There was no respite for residents in the National Capital Region (NCR) too as the air quality recorded in Noida, Greater Noida and Faridabad stood at 472, 458 and 441 respectively. Visuals of thick and dense smog were observed in Delhi and its adjoining areas in the morning. A layer of smog covers #Delhi this morning. Visuals from around Lodhi Road, Akshardham and Sarai Kale Khan. pic.twitter.com/PocONdRr7p — ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2019 × SAFAR also added that the air quality is expected to further deteriorate in the next two days and will fall under 'severe plus' category. The worsening situation may improve by November 15. An AQI in the range of 201 to 300 is considered 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe' and above 500 'severe plus'. However, there was a decreasing trend in stubble burning, which is a major contributor to air pollution as per a methodology used by SAFAR. As per officials in the weather department, Delhi witnessed a temperature of 11.7 degree Celsius on Tuesday morning, its lowest so far this season. As the temperature lowers, it becomes easier for the pollutants to mix up and make the air toxic. This phenomenon results in smog, a foggy air which has the presence of pollutants. As per the Central Pollution Control Bureau (CPCB), Delhi's overall AQI read 425 at 4 pm and 437 at 9 pm on Tuesday. The levels of PM 2.5, a deadly pollutant that can enter into lungs, breached the emergency mark of 300 micrograms per cubic metre and stood at 337 late on Tuesday. PM 10 was also five times higher than the safe limit of 100 micrograms per cubic metre. A layer of smog covers the sky, in Ghaziabad this morning. Air Quality Index (AQI) in Indirapuram area is at 465, Loni at 475, Sanjay Nagar at 469 and Vasundhara at 479 - all in 'Severe' category. pic.twitter.com/gjQVDMN374 — ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) November 13, 2019 × The situation of pollution worsened in Delhi yesterday as the Delhi government lifted restrictions on the odd-even scheme due to the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak. The odd-even is a rationing scheme where cars with odd and even number plates are allowed to run in the streets on alternate days. Last week, the apex court pulled up Centre and state governments of northern Indian states for their inability to curb pollution. With the arrival of winter, the situation of air pollution worsens in northern India due to factors such as stubble burning and industrial pollution among others. Stubble burning is a practice followed by Indian farmers where residues after harvesting are set on fire. The Supreme Court had earlier ordered a complete halt in stubble burning and announced incentives too in order to curb this menace. (with inputs from agencies)

Air quality in Delhi 'severe', set to enter 'emergency' category today: SAFAR

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that the Odd-Even traffic rationing scheme can be extended if required.

"Delhi`s air quality is deteriorating due to stubble burning. However, it has reduced a little due to rains in Punjab and Haryana. If required, we will extend the Odd-Even scheme," Kejriwal told media here. The Odd-Even vehicle rationing scheme was implemented on "non-transport four-wheeled vehicles", exempting two-wheelers and emergency vehicles.

The scheme has been implemented from November 4 to 15. It is applicable from 8 am to 8 pm, except on Sundays. The violation of the rules attracts a fine of Rs 4000. Women are exempted from the scheme. However, this time private CNG vehicles have come under its ambit. The scheme, aimed at combatting pollution, was first implemented in 2015.

It entails cars with odd and even number plates to run on alternate days. For the last few years, the national capital has been grappling with smog every winter, raising health concerns.

The rule was implemented in view of the air quality crisis which hits the capital every winter. After a brief respite for a few days, the Air Quality Index again plunged to 'severe'&nbsp;this morning with a thick blanket of smog shrouding the national capital.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that the Odd-Even traffic rationing scheme can be extended if required. "Delhi`s air quality is deteriorating due to stubble burning.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday said that the Odd-Even traffic rationing scheme can be extended if required. "Delhi`s air quality is deteriorating due to stubble burning. However, it has reduced a little due to rains in Punjab and Haryana. If required, we will extend the Odd-Even scheme," Kejriwal told media here. The Odd-Even vehicle rationing scheme was implemented on "non-transport four-wheeled vehicles", exempting two-wheelers and emergency vehicles. The scheme has been implemented from November 4 to 15. It is applicable from 8 am to 8 pm, except on Sundays. The violation of the rules attracts a fine of Rs 4000. Women are exempted from the scheme. However, this time private CNG vehicles have come under its ambit. The scheme, aimed at combatting pollution, was first implemented in 2015. It entails cars with odd and even number plates to run on alternate days. For the last few years, the national capital has been grappling with smog every winter, raising health concerns. The rule was implemented in view of the air quality crisis which hits the capital every winter. After a brief respite for a few days, the Air Quality Index again plunged to 'severe' this morning with a thick blanket of smog shrouding the national capital.

Arvind Kejriwal hints at extending Odd-Even scheme as national capital's air quality deteriorates

Delhi and its adjoining regions including Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad on Tuesday were engulfed by a dense, noxious smog that reduced visibility, and brought the air quality to `very poor` level, reported news agency ANI.

Delhi and its adjoining regions including Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad on Tuesday were engulfed by a dense, noxious smog that reduced visibility, and brought the air quality to `very poor` level, reported news agency ANI. The overall air quality of the national capital docked at 376 at 8:30am on Tuesday, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). Delhi: Anand Vihar at 441(severe) and Rohini at 440(severe) on Air Quality Index (AQI) (file pic) pic.twitter.com/8sWhV7Ll0c — ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2019 × At Dhirpur, the AQI was 388 while at Delhi University it was 382. At Lodhi Road and IIT Delhi, the AQI was 360 and 369, respectively. Today, the minimum and maximum temperature of Delhi will hover around 14 degrees Celsius and 27 degrees Celsius with the humidity at 46 per cent. The shallow fog will envelop the region throughout the day. The Center-run SAFAR has advised people to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. "Take more breaks and do less intense activities. Asthmatics, keep medicine ready if symptoms of coughing or shortness of breath occur. Heart patients, see doctor, if get palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue," it said in an advisory. During winter season each year, most of northern India suffers from a spike in toxicity in the air due to the change in weather patterns and crop residue burning in states of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh. Not only that, but a dip in temperature along with low wind speed also tends to trap air pollutants closer to the ground. (With inputs from ANI)

Toxic air leaves Delhi-NCR gasping for breath

The air quality in Delhi remained in the 'poor category'&nbsp;for the second consecutive day on Thursday, said System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

The overall Air Quality Index stood at 283 by 8:30 in the morning today. The organisation also stated that Dhirpur recorded an AQI of 145 at 8:30 am today. Mathura road recorded a figure of 309, IIT Delhi docked at 316, Airport Terminal 3 at 234, Lodhi Road 153 and Pusa 239.

"I am feeling much better today as the pollution level has decreased. I believe that even-odd has helped to bring down the pollution in the capital. The visibility has also increased on the roads," Robin Sharma, a visitor from Punjab told ANI.

The Center-run SAFAR has advised people to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion"

Take more breaks and do less intense activities. Asthmatics, keep medicine ready if symptoms of coughing or shortness of breath occur. Heart patients, see doctor, if get palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue," it said in an advisory. 
&nbsp;

The air quality in Delhi remained in the 'poor category' for the second consecutive day on Thursday, said System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

The air quality in Delhi remained in the 'poor category' for the second consecutive day on Thursday, said System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). The overall Air Quality Index stood at 283 by 8:30 in the morning today. The organisation also stated that Dhirpur recorded an AQI of 145 at 8:30 am today. Mathura road recorded a figure of 309, IIT Delhi docked at 316, Airport Terminal 3 at 234, Lodhi Road 153 and Pusa 239. "I am feeling much better today as the pollution level has decreased. I believe that even-odd has helped to bring down the pollution in the capital. The visibility has also increased on the roads," Robin Sharma, a visitor from Punjab told ANI. The Center-run SAFAR has advised people to reduce prolonged or heavy exertion" Take more breaks and do less intense activities. Asthmatics, keep medicine ready if symptoms of coughing or shortness of breath occur. Heart patients, see doctor, if get palpitations, shortness of breath, or unusual fatigue," it said in an advisory.

Air quality remains in 'poor' category in Delhi

A glimpse of Delhi's pollution: Stubble burning and more

After an extended bout of hazardous levels of pollution, the air quality in the national capital and its adjoining areas on Wednesday fell in the `poor category` due to positive influence of high-speed winds.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi at 8:30 in the morning today was 276; it was 381 (very poor) on Tuesday and 494 on November 4, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

Despite the decrease in the pollutants in the air, a layer of thick smog continues to cover the sky near the major junction of Delhi. At India Gate, where the air quality remains in the `unhealthy` category this morning, the visibility was poor creating problems for the joggers and the commuters.

Schools situated in Delhi also reopened today as air quality in the national capital improved significantly in the morning.

The Arvind Kejriwal led government in Delhi had announced the closure of schools till November 5 after pollution levels plunged to `severe plus` category on Friday.

A couple of students had worn anti-pollution masks while going to school to prevent themselves from falling prey to respiratory illness.

\In a bid to tackle the national capital`s air pollution, the Delhi government has also re-introduced the Odd-Even scheme. Today is the third day of the programme and this scheme will run till November 15.&nbsp;

After an extended bout of hazardous levels of pollution, the air quality in the national capital and its adjoining areas on Wednesday fell in the `poor category` due to positive influence of high-speed winds.

After an extended bout of hazardous levels of pollution, the air quality in the national capital and its adjoining areas on Wednesday fell in the `poor category` due to positive influence of high-speed winds. The Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi at 8:30 in the morning today was 276; it was 381 (very poor) on Tuesday and 494 on November 4, according to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). Despite the decrease in the pollutants in the air, a layer of thick smog continues to cover the sky near the major junction of Delhi. At India Gate, where the air quality remains in the `unhealthy` category this morning, the visibility was poor creating problems for the joggers and the commuters. Schools situated in Delhi also reopened today as air quality in the national capital improved significantly in the morning. The Arvind Kejriwal led government in Delhi had announced the closure of schools till November 5 after pollution levels plunged to `severe plus` category on Friday. A couple of students had worn anti-pollution masks while going to school to prevent themselves from falling prey to respiratory illness. \In a bid to tackle the national capital`s air pollution, the Delhi government has also re-introduced the Odd-Even scheme. Today is the third day of the programme and this scheme will run till November 15.

Air quality improves to 'poor' in Delhi 

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Centre and government of northern states in India over their approach towards curbing&nbsp;pollution.&nbsp;

A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra came down heavily on the chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi on the matters related to stubble burning, construction activities, road dust among factors that contribute towards air pollution.&nbsp;

"You cannot deal with road dust, construction &amp; demolition or garbage dumping. Why are you holding the post?" Justice Mishra told Delhi Chief Secretary Ajay Kumar Dev, reports ANI.&nbsp;

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Air Pollution matter in Supreme Court: Justice Mishra asked Delhi Chief Secretary, you cannot deal with road dust, construction &amp; demolition or garbage dumping. Why are you holding the post?
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1192045566957481987?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
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This is the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhi-supreme-court-asks-logic-behind-odd-even-scheme-imposes-fine-of-rs-1-lakh-on-violators-of-construction-ban-259884">second time </a>in two days the top court has&nbsp;questioned Delhi's approach towards improving&nbsp;Delhi's toxic air.

"Cars create less pollution. What are you [Delhi]&nbsp;getting from this odd-even? What is the logic behind the odd-even scheme? Banning diesel vehicles we can understand, but what is the point of odd-even scheme," the SC told the Delhi government on Monday.

The governments of Punjab and Haryana were also not sparred on the issue of stubble burning.

"We want immediate action to deal with stubble burning. It seems that there is no coordination among the officers and the state government to deal with this situation," Justice Mishra said to Punjab government, reports ANI. Justice Mishra told Punjab and neighbouring Haryana governments that they have "miserably" failed in performing its duty.&nbsp;

In order to prevent farmers from burning stubble, the SC ordered an incentive of Rs 100 per quintal to small and marginal farmers of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh for handling residue of non-Basmati rice crops.&nbsp;

The Supreme Court also questioned the implementation of the funds coming from World Bank in order to improve infrastructure. "So much of funds have come, where is the concept of a smart city? Why have the roads not improved," Justice Mishra asked.&nbsp;

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Air Pollution matter in Supreme Court: Justice Mishra says, what is happening to the funds coming from World Bank for better infrastructure and development. So much of funds have come, where is the concept of smart city? Why have the roads not improved?
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1192047222235336705?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 6, 2019</a></blockquote>
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Earlier today, Delhi's air quality improved slightly from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/delhis-air-quality-improves-but-still-under-very-poor-category-259978">"very poor" to "poor" category</a>. Schools also reopened&nbsp;in the national capital on Wednesday.

Due to the arrival of winter combined with other factors such as stubble burning, bursting of crackers, etc, the national capital and its adjoining areas have been covered in a thick blanket of smog from the past few weeks.

As per a report by WHO, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/supreme-court-orders-complete-halt-to-stubble-burning-around-delhi-260081">14 Indian cities </a>feature in world's 15 most polluted cities. Nearly 10 lakh people die each year in India due to pollution.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Centre and government of northern states in India over their approach towards curbing pollution. A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra came down heavily on the chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi on the matters related to stubble burning, construction activities, road dust among factors that contribute towards air pollution.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday pulled up the Centre and government of northern states in India over their approach towards curbing pollution. A bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra came down heavily on the chief secretaries of Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi on the matters related to stubble burning, construction activities, road dust among factors that contribute towards air pollution. "You cannot deal with road dust, construction & demolition or garbage dumping. Why are you holding the post?" Justice Mishra told Delhi Chief Secretary Ajay Kumar Dev, reports ANI. Air Pollution matter in Supreme Court: Justice Mishra asked Delhi Chief Secretary, you cannot deal with road dust, construction & demolition or garbage dumping. Why are you holding the post? — ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2019 × This is the second time in two days the top court has questioned Delhi's approach towards improving Delhi's toxic air. "Cars create less pollution. What are you [Delhi] getting from this odd-even? What is the logic behind the odd-even scheme? Banning diesel vehicles we can understand, but what is the point of odd-even scheme," the SC told the Delhi government on Monday. The governments of Punjab and Haryana were also not sparred on the issue of stubble burning. "We want immediate action to deal with stubble burning. It seems that there is no coordination among the officers and the state government to deal with this situation," Justice Mishra said to Punjab government, reports ANI. Justice Mishra told Punjab and neighbouring Haryana governments that they have "miserably" failed in performing its duty. In order to prevent farmers from burning stubble, the SC ordered an incentive of Rs 100 per quintal to small and marginal farmers of Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh for handling residue of non-Basmati rice crops. The Supreme Court also questioned the implementation of the funds coming from World Bank in order to improve infrastructure. "So much of funds have come, where is the concept of a smart city? Why have the roads not improved," Justice Mishra asked. Air Pollution matter in Supreme Court: Justice Mishra says, what is happening to the funds coming from World Bank for better infrastructure and development. So much of funds have come, where is the concept of smart city? Why have the roads not improved? — ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2019 × Earlier today, Delhi's air quality improved slightly from "very poor" to "poor" category. Schools also reopened in the national capital on Wednesday. Due to the arrival of winter combined with other factors such as stubble burning, bursting of crackers, etc, the national capital and its adjoining areas have been covered in a thick blanket of smog from the past few weeks. As per a report by WHO, 14 Indian cities feature in world's 15 most polluted cities. Nearly 10 lakh people die each year in India due to pollution.

Supreme Court pulls up Centre, state governments over failure to improve air quality

Schools reopened on Wednesday after an extended Diwali break due to pollution with a large number of students seen using anti-pollution masks to protect them from health hazard.

While the pollution levels have gradually come down since Sunday, the AQI still remains in the 'poor'&nbsp;category.

Today morning, a major pollutant PM 2.5 is at 279 and PM 10 is at 250, both in 'poor'&nbsp;category in Lodhi Road area, according to Air Quality Index (AQI) data.

Taking cognizance of air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR crossed "hazardous" category, Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority on Friday declared a public health emergency. School holidays for all government and public schools were also declared by the Delhi government and municipal corporations.&nbsp;

Schools reopened on Wednesday after an extended Diwali break due to pollution with a large number of students seen using anti-pollution masks to protect them from health hazard.

Schools reopened on Wednesday after an extended Diwali break due to pollution with a large number of students seen using anti-pollution masks to protect them from health hazard. While the pollution levels have gradually come down since Sunday, the AQI still remains in the 'poor' category. Today morning, a major pollutant PM 2.5 is at 279 and PM 10 is at 250, both in 'poor' category in Lodhi Road area, according to Air Quality Index (AQI) data. Taking cognizance of air pollution levels in Delhi-NCR crossed "hazardous" category, Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority on Friday declared a public health emergency. School holidays for all government and public schools were also declared by the Delhi government and municipal corporations.

After festival and pollution break, schools reopen in Delhi

With Delhi-NCR gasping for breath, BJP MLA from Ghaziabad, Nand Kishore Gurjar has penned down a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to direct Indian Air Force to sprinkle water in his constituency with the help of helicopters to settle down dust particles.

In the letter, he wrote, "This is to bring to your notice that in Delhi and its adjoining NCR region Ghaziabad, the air quality index is hovering between 1700-1900. This has created an emergency-like situation in these areas. In these conditions, at present, lakhs of people residing in Delhi-NCR-Loni from the past one week are breathing in the gas chamber and are slowly breathing poisonous air. Due to polluted air, people have fallen prey to heart disease, Asthma, breathlessness, lung infection and eye irritation. The majority of them who are affected are aged people and children."

"In such condition, lakhs of people have faith in our Prime Minister that in this emergency like situation, he will ask Indian Air force to use helicopters and global master aircraft to sprinkle water all over Delhi and NCR. We also believed that you will also seek the help of talented scientists in artificial cloud formation tp reduce air pollution. 16 lakh people of my Loni and crores of people from NCR will be grateful to you," the letter read.

On October 17, Ghaziabad`s Loni (rural area) was placed in the top of the chart of the 108 most polluted cities in the country as per the Central Pollution Control Board`s AQI figures, a day after stringent measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was implemented in the city to tackle the menace of air pollution.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

With Delhi-NCR gasping for breath, BJP MLA from Ghaziabad, Nand Kishore Gurjar has penned down a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to direct Indian Air Force to sprinkle water in his constituency with the help of helicopters to settle down dust particles.

With Delhi-NCR gasping for breath, BJP MLA from Ghaziabad, Nand Kishore Gurjar has penned down a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting him to direct Indian Air Force to sprinkle water in his constituency with the help of helicopters to settle down dust particles. In the letter, he wrote, "This is to bring to your notice that in Delhi and its adjoining NCR region Ghaziabad, the air quality index is hovering between 1700-1900. This has created an emergency-like situation in these areas. In these conditions, at present, lakhs of people residing in Delhi-NCR-Loni from the past one week are breathing in the gas chamber and are slowly breathing poisonous air. Due to polluted air, people have fallen prey to heart disease, Asthma, breathlessness, lung infection and eye irritation. The majority of them who are affected are aged people and children." "In such condition, lakhs of people have faith in our Prime Minister that in this emergency like situation, he will ask Indian Air force to use helicopters and global master aircraft to sprinkle water all over Delhi and NCR. We also believed that you will also seek the help of talented scientists in artificial cloud formation tp reduce air pollution. 16 lakh people of my Loni and crores of people from NCR will be grateful to you," the letter read. On October 17, Ghaziabad`s Loni (rural area) was placed in the top of the chart of the 108 most polluted cities in the country as per the Central Pollution Control Board`s AQI figures, a day after stringent measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) was implemented in the city to tackle the menace of air pollution.

BJP MLA urges PM Narendra Modi to direct IAF to sprinkle water in Delhi NCR 

The past 24 hours have brought some relief to the people residing in the national capital and its adjoining areas such as Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad as the air quality index (AQI) on Tuesday slightly improved from `severe` to `very poor` category in Delhi-NCR, stated the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

At 9 in the morning today, the overall AQI of Delhi docked at 381, which falls in the `very poor` category. The AQI between the range of 51 to 100 is considered as satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 falls under the category of poor. While 300-400 is considered as `very poor`, levels between 401-500 fall under the `hazardous category`.At Dhirpur, the AQI was 271 in the morning, while in Mathura Road area it dipped to `poor` category at 236. Furthermore, AQI near Chandni Chowk, Airport, Terminal 3 and Delhi University stood at 375, 234 and 256 respectively.

Locals especially the middle-aged people complained of breathless and fatigue urged the Delhi government to take requisite measures to combat the menace.

"The pollution is increasing in Delhi. The government must do something. My children are also getting affected," said Pramod Sharma, a local while speaking to ANI.

"The government must roll out a policy so that the vehicles can be reduced on roads. I do cycling every day but now in this pollution, it is getting difficult for me. Things will become worse in the future if some actions are not taken," said Javed Ahmad, another local.

Due to a thick blanket of smog, the visibility in the city also dropped affecting the road traffic at major junctions such as Signature Bridge and Akshardham Temple road.

To curb air pollution, the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi has announced the implementation of the Odd-Even scheme from November 4 till November 15, 2019.

The past 24 hours have brought some relief to the people residing in the national capital and its adjoining areas such as Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad as the air quality index (AQI) on Tuesday slightly improved from `severe` to `very poor` category in Delhi-NCR, stated the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).

The past 24 hours have brought some relief to the people residing in the national capital and its adjoining areas such as Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad as the air quality index (AQI) on Tuesday slightly improved from `severe` to `very poor` category in Delhi-NCR, stated the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). At 9 in the morning today, the overall AQI of Delhi docked at 381, which falls in the `very poor` category. The AQI between the range of 51 to 100 is considered as satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 falls under the category of poor. While 300-400 is considered as `very poor`, levels between 401-500 fall under the `hazardous category`.At Dhirpur, the AQI was 271 in the morning, while in Mathura Road area it dipped to `poor` category at 236. Furthermore, AQI near Chandni Chowk, Airport, Terminal 3 and Delhi University stood at 375, 234 and 256 respectively. Locals especially the middle-aged people complained of breathless and fatigue urged the Delhi government to take requisite measures to combat the menace. "The pollution is increasing in Delhi. The government must do something. My children are also getting affected," said Pramod Sharma, a local while speaking to ANI. "The government must roll out a policy so that the vehicles can be reduced on roads. I do cycling every day but now in this pollution, it is getting difficult for me. Things will become worse in the future if some actions are not taken," said Javed Ahmad, another local. Due to a thick blanket of smog, the visibility in the city also dropped affecting the road traffic at major junctions such as Signature Bridge and Akshardham Temple road. To curb air pollution, the Arvind Kejriwal-led government in Delhi has announced the implementation of the Odd-Even scheme from November 4 till November 15, 2019.

Delhi's air quality improves but still under 'very poor' category

To improve the worsening air quality in the national capital, the Supreme Court ordered a complete halt to stubble burning around Delhi. Stubble burning is regarded as one of the biggest contributors to air pollution and is generally done during this time of the year.&nbsp;

Responding to the plea filed by activists, the apex court said that people of India are losing "precious years" due to air pollution, adding that this cannot be allowed in a "civilised" country, reports AFP.

The Supreme Court also added that the entire police administration and the police department will be held liable if its latest directions are not followed.&nbsp;

Earlier on Tuesday, Delhi's air quality showed signs of improvement as it moved to "very poor" from the "severe" category. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recordings, Delhi's overall air quality was marked at 397, which falls under the "very poor" category. Delhi's pollution levels started dropping down marginally later on Monday due to an increase in wind speed.&nbsp;

The IMD predicted light rains on November 7 in Delhi which can further improve the air quality.

Northern India, every year during this time faces the menace of smog, due to stubble burning, bursting of crackers, and construction activities as the cooler air gets mixed with pollutants from these activities that make&nbsp;the air toxic and difficult to breathe.&nbsp;

On Monday, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal implemented the odd-even rationing scheme, in which cars with odd and even number plates are allowed to hit streets on alternate days. Kejriwal described the first day of the scheme as a success adding that nearly 15 lakh cars were off the road which prevented pollution and traffic.

However, Vijay Goel, a member of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defied the odd-even rules and called the scheme an election gimmick. Delhi is due for the legislative elections next year.&nbsp;

So far, steps such as banning construction activities in Delhi, parking an air purifier&nbsp;vehicle in front of Taj Mahal have been taken to reduce air pollution levels. Delhi schools are also closed until Wednesday.&nbsp;

As per a report by WHO, 14 Indian cities are a part of 15 most polluted cities in the world, including Delhi. Around 10 lakh people die each year in India due to pollution.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

To improve the worsening air quality in the national capital, the Supreme Court ordered a complete halt to stubble burning around Delhi. Stubble burning is regarded as one of the biggest contributors to air pollution and is generally done during this time of the year.

To improve the worsening air quality in the national capital, the Supreme Court ordered a complete halt to stubble burning around Delhi. Stubble burning is regarded as one of the biggest contributors to air pollution and is generally done during this time of the year. Responding to the plea filed by activists, the apex court said that people of India are losing "precious years" due to air pollution, adding that this cannot be allowed in a "civilised" country, reports AFP. The Supreme Court also added that the entire police administration and the police department will be held liable if its latest directions are not followed. Earlier on Tuesday, Delhi's air quality showed signs of improvement as it moved to "very poor" from the "severe" category. As per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recordings, Delhi's overall air quality was marked at 397, which falls under the "very poor" category. Delhi's pollution levels started dropping down marginally later on Monday due to an increase in wind speed. The IMD predicted light rains on November 7 in Delhi which can further improve the air quality. Northern India, every year during this time faces the menace of smog, due to stubble burning, bursting of crackers, and construction activities as the cooler air gets mixed with pollutants from these activities that make the air toxic and difficult to breathe. On Monday, Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal implemented the odd-even rationing scheme, in which cars with odd and even number plates are allowed to hit streets on alternate days. Kejriwal described the first day of the scheme as a success adding that nearly 15 lakh cars were off the road which prevented pollution and traffic. However, Vijay Goel, a member of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) defied the odd-even rules and called the scheme an election gimmick. Delhi is due for the legislative elections next year. So far, steps such as banning construction activities in Delhi, parking an air purifier vehicle in front of Taj Mahal have been taken to reduce air pollution levels. Delhi schools are also closed until Wednesday. As per a report by WHO, 14 Indian cities are a part of 15 most polluted cities in the world, including Delhi. Around 10 lakh people die each year in India due to pollution.

Supreme Court orders complete halt to stubble burning around Delhi

In the backdrop of severe air pollution in Delhi-NCR and other parts of north India, PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister held a high-level review meeting with senior officials from Punjab, Haryana and Delhi through video-conferencing on Sunday.

The meeting was held to tackle the menace of air pollution. About 300 teams are in the field in Delhi to reduce air pollution, necessary machinery for this work has been distributed in the states.

The Chief Secretaries of these States have been asked to monitor the situation in various districts of their respective states on a 24x7 basis.

Also, the Cabinet Secretary will monitor the situation on a daily basis. Principal Secretary to PM had earlier reviewed the situation on October 24.

A series of meetings have taken place for the necessary preparation, including one meeting by the Cabinet Secretary on this subject (air pollution), on October 4.

Earlier today, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the Central government to take immediate steps to provide relief from the pollution and assured full support in all its initiatives.

The National capital and its adjoining areas have been covered in a thick blanket of smog due to rising pollution from past few weeks.

The situation is such that public health emergency has also been issued by EPCA in the wake of the dipping air quality.

Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal, who has been lately slamming neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana over the rise in pollution in Delhi said, "Pollution has reached unbearable levels across North India. Delhi government has taken many steps. Delhiites have made many sacrifices. Delhi suffering for no fault of theirs."&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

In the backdrop of severe air pollution in Delhi-NCR and other parts of north India, PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister held a high-level review meeting with senior officials from Punjab, Haryana and Delhi through video-conferencing on Sunday.

In the backdrop of severe air pollution in Delhi-NCR and other parts of north India, PK Mishra, Principal Secretary to Prime Minister held a high-level review meeting with senior officials from Punjab, Haryana and Delhi through video-conferencing on Sunday. The meeting was held to tackle the menace of air pollution. About 300 teams are in the field in Delhi to reduce air pollution, necessary machinery for this work has been distributed in the states. The Chief Secretaries of these States have been asked to monitor the situation in various districts of their respective states on a 24x7 basis. Also, the Cabinet Secretary will monitor the situation on a daily basis. Principal Secretary to PM had earlier reviewed the situation on October 24. A series of meetings have taken place for the necessary preparation, including one meeting by the Cabinet Secretary on this subject (air pollution), on October 4. Earlier today, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged the Central government to take immediate steps to provide relief from the pollution and assured full support in all its initiatives. The National capital and its adjoining areas have been covered in a thick blanket of smog due to rising pollution from past few weeks. The situation is such that public health emergency has also been issued by EPCA in the wake of the dipping air quality. Taking to Twitter, Kejriwal, who has been lately slamming neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana over the rise in pollution in Delhi said, "Pollution has reached unbearable levels across North India. Delhi government has taken many steps. Delhiites have made many sacrifices. Delhi suffering for no fault of theirs."

Air pollution menace: Principal Secretary to PM holds meeting with officials of Delhi, Punjab, Haryana

At least 37 flights have been diverted at the Delhi Airport after a thick blanket of smog engulfed several parts of the city on Sunday morning.

Air pollution in the national capital escalated to a hazardous level and visibility dropped significantly.

The Delhi Airport in a statement said, "Due to low visibility at Delhi Airport, 37 flights were diverted between 9 am and 1 pm to places including Jaipur, Amritsar and Lucknow among others, today. As of now, the visibility has improved."

The update issued on Twitter at 3 pm said, "The visibility at Delhi airport is improving. Passengers are requested to get in touch with the airline concerned for the updated flight information. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted."

Notably, for the first time in this season, the Air Quality Index (AQI) docked as high as 625 at 10 in the morning despite light drizzles in the early hours.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered "good", 51-100 "satisfactory", 101-200 "moderate", 201-300 "poor", 301-400 "very poor", and 401-500 "severe". Above 500 is "severe-plus emergency" category.&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

At least 37 flights have been diverted at the Delhi Airport after a thick blanket of smog engulfed several parts of the city on Sunday morning. Air pollution in the national capital escalated to a hazardous level and visibility dropped significantly.

At least 37 flights have been diverted at the Delhi Airport after a thick blanket of smog engulfed several parts of the city on Sunday morning. Air pollution in the national capital escalated to a hazardous level and visibility dropped significantly. The Delhi Airport in a statement said, "Due to low visibility at Delhi Airport, 37 flights were diverted between 9 am and 1 pm to places including Jaipur, Amritsar and Lucknow among others, today. As of now, the visibility has improved." The update issued on Twitter at 3 pm said, "The visibility at Delhi airport is improving. Passengers are requested to get in touch with the airline concerned for the updated flight information. Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted." Notably, for the first time in this season, the Air Quality Index (AQI) docked as high as 625 at 10 in the morning despite light drizzles in the early hours. An AQI between 0-50 is considered "good", 51-100 "satisfactory", 101-200 "moderate", 201-300 "poor", 301-400 "very poor", and 401-500 "severe". Above 500 is "severe-plus emergency" category.

Delhi air pollution: 37 flights diverted due to low visibility at airport

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Saturday said the leaders should rise above politics and collectively take actions to combat air pollution in a sustainable manner so that the issue can be resolved permanently.

"It is an environmental issue. We should collectively take actions, which have a long-term impact on combating air pollution and the matter can be resolved once and for all. We should rise above politics," he said during a press conference.

Deputy Chief Minister Chautala said that the Central government should lead the efforts in consultation with Haryana, UP, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Punjab.

"Stubble burning has decreased in Haryana. Data show that this year, there has been a fall in stubble burning by 34 per cent. Continuous efforts are being made to further decrease it," he said.

Citing data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Chautala rapped Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying that Punjab is mostly responsible for the air pollution due to stubble burning.

"According to NASA data, there is not much stubble burning on the border regions of Haryana. It is mostly from Punjab. And if the air pollution is making its way to Delhi, it cannot simply be stopped by sealing borders," he said.

Chautala also said that the fire incidents in the dump yards in the national capital also contribute to air pollution in the city.

"Delhi government should also monitor that," he said.The air quality in the national capital has slumped to the `hazardous category` with the pollution level hovering near 400 owing to stubble burning in the neighbouring states.&nbsp;

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Saturday said the leaders should rise above politics and collectively take actions to combat air pollution in a sustainable manner so that the issue can be resolved permanently.

Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala on Saturday said the leaders should rise above politics and collectively take actions to combat air pollution in a sustainable manner so that the issue can be resolved permanently. "It is an environmental issue. We should collectively take actions, which have a long-term impact on combating air pollution and the matter can be resolved once and for all. We should rise above politics," he said during a press conference. Deputy Chief Minister Chautala said that the Central government should lead the efforts in consultation with Haryana, UP, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Punjab. "Stubble burning has decreased in Haryana. Data show that this year, there has been a fall in stubble burning by 34 per cent. Continuous efforts are being made to further decrease it," he said. Citing data from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), Chautala rapped Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, saying that Punjab is mostly responsible for the air pollution due to stubble burning. "According to NASA data, there is not much stubble burning on the border regions of Haryana. It is mostly from Punjab. And if the air pollution is making its way to Delhi, it cannot simply be stopped by sealing borders," he said. Chautala also said that the fire incidents in the dump yards in the national capital also contribute to air pollution in the city. "Delhi government should also monitor that," he said.The air quality in the national capital has slumped to the `hazardous category` with the pollution level hovering near 400 owing to stubble burning in the neighbouring states.

We should rise above politics to combat air pollution: Dushyant Chautala

Environmentalists and residents in New Delhi urged authorities to shift the upcoming India-Bangladesh Twenty20 match to a different venue as air pollution remained at the most severe level in the Indian capital for the second day running on Wednesday (October 30).

As pollution plagues Delhi, calls grow to shift India-Bangladesh T20 match

The residents of the National Capital Region seem to be getting no respite from the worsening air quality after Diwali. As per the air quality index on Wednesday at Delhi's Lodhi Road area, the major pollutants PM 2.5 was measured at 500 (severe category) while PM 10 was recorded at 379 (very poor category).&nbsp;

Delhi's overall air quality on average was at around 392 this morning under 'very poor' category. Chandni Chowk recorded the highest PM 10 at 673 today with 'severe' category pollution.&nbsp;

Noida's air quality was at 535 at the AQI index (severe) while Gurugram was 'very poor' at 384. &nbsp;

Delhi government, on Tuesday, blamed stubble-burning activities in Delhi's adjoining areas for the dip in the air quality in the national capital.&nbsp;

The Delhi government on Tuesday said that the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/nasa-images-show-increase-in-stubble-burning-in-last-24-hours-in-punjab-haryana-delhi-government-258717">latest images from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration</a> (NASA) show a drastic increase in the stubble burning in the last 24 hours in Haryana and Punjab, news agency ANI reported.&nbsp;

A statement from the office of Delhi's Environment Minister Kailash Gahlot said, "Latest NASA images show a drastic increase in stubble burning in the last 24 hours. Stubble burning counts have increased from 1,654 to 2,577 in Punjab/Haryana in the last 24 hours."

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<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Delhi?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Delhi</a>: Major pollutants PM 2.5 at 500 (severe) and PM 10 at 379 (very poor), in Lodhi Road area, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data. <a href="https://t.co/4YCJOnCvoD">pic.twitter.com/4YCJOnCvoD</a>
— ANI (@ANI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ANI/status/1189352506373132288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 30, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The statement said that wind direction shows stubble plume could increase from Punjab and Haryana, and Delhi facing adverse air quality despite the cleanest Diwali night in the last many years, ANI reported.&nbsp;

"The latest NASA images show a drastic spurt in crop residue burnings (stubble burnings) in the neighbouring states of Delhi, which has severely affected Delhi's air quality.

The stubble plume from north-west regions has become one of the significant factors in adversely affecting Delhi's air quality," the statement read.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday took to Twitter and urged governments of Punjab and Haryana to take concrete steps to avoid Delhi from turning into a gas chamber.&nbsp;

"On behalf of Delhi residents, I appeal to the governments of Punjab Haryana to join hands and take some concrete steps immediately and save Delhi from becoming a gas chamber. At our level, we are making every possible effort and will continue to do so," his tweet read.&nbsp;

The pollution in the national capital and its nearby areas such as Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad and Ghaziabad remained in the 'very poor' category on Tuesday with the Air Quality Index (AQI) docking at 392, said Center-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR).&nbsp;

Experts suggest there are little chances of smog lifting up in the next couple of days.&nbsp;

(With inputs from ANI)&nbsp;

The residents of the National Capital Region seem to be getting no respite from the worsening air quality after Diwali. As per the air quality index on Wednesday at Delhi's Lodhi Road area, the major pollutants PM 2.

The residents of the National Capital Region seem to be getting no respite from the worsening air quality after Diwali. As per the air quality index on Wednesday at Delhi's Lodhi Road area, the major pollutants PM 2.5 was measured at 500 (severe category) while PM 10 was recorded at 379 (very poor category). Delhi's overall air quality on average was at around 392 this morning under 'very poor' category. Chandni Chowk recorded the highest PM 10 at 673 today with 'severe' category pollution. Noida's air quality was at 535 at the AQI index (severe) while Gurugram was 'very poor' at 384. Delhi government, on Tuesday, blamed stubble-burning activities in Delhi's adjoining areas for the dip in the air quality in the national capital. The Delhi government on Tuesday said that the latest images from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) show a drastic increase in the stubble burning in the last 24 hours in Haryana and Punjab, news agency ANI reported. A statement from the office of Delhi's Environment Minister Kailash Gahlot said, "Latest NASA images show a drastic increase in stubble burning in the last 24 hours. Stubble burning counts have increased from 1,654 to 2,577 in Punjab/Haryana in the last 24 hours." #Delhi: Major pollutants PM 2.5 at 500 (severe) and PM 10 at 379 (very poor), in Lodhi Road area, according to the Air Quality Index (AQI) data. pic.twitter.com/4YCJOnCvoD — ANI (@ANI) October 30, 2019 × The statement said that wind direction shows stubble plume could increase from Punjab and Haryana, and Delhi facing adverse air quality despite the cleanest Diwali night in the last many years, ANI reported. "The latest NASA images show a drastic spurt in crop residue burnings (stubble burnings) in the neighbouring states of Delhi, which has severely affected Delhi's air quality. The stubble plume from north-west regions has become one of the significant factors in adversely affecting Delhi's air quality," the statement read. Meanwhile, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Tuesday took to Twitter and urged governments of Punjab and Haryana to take concrete steps to avoid Delhi from turning into a gas chamber. "On behalf of Delhi residents, I appeal to the governments of Punjab Haryana to join hands and take some concrete steps immediately and save Delhi from becoming a gas chamber. At our level, we are making every possible effort and will continue to do so," his tweet read. The pollution in the national capital and its nearby areas such as Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad and Ghaziabad remained in the 'very poor' category on Tuesday with the Air Quality Index (AQI) docking at 392, said Center-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR). Experts suggest there are little chances of smog lifting up in the next couple of days. (With inputs from ANI)

'Save Delhi from becoming gas chamber,' Kejriwal urges neighbouring governments to take concrete steps

Delhi is once again inching towards the worst time of the year in terms of air pollution, as the national capital`s air quality is getting toxic day by day.

The government-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) on Friday said overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital with Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 was detected at 375, which falls in the ` very poor` category.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 severe or hazardous.

At Mathura road, major pollutant PM 2.5 was detected at 267 (hazardous), while in Dhirpur and Delhi University, the air quality dipped to the `very poor` category at 316 and 309, respectively.

In Chandni Chowk also, the air quality plunged to `poor category` at 276 AQI.

"During morning walk we feel irritation in eyes due to dust and smog in the air. I also feel breathless after jogging for a few minutes. People are using more and more cars which is why pollution is increasing in Delhi," said Raj Kumar, a local.

"I feel suffocated when I go for a walk at India Gate. The pollution is increasing in Delhi. I request the government to take requisite measures to curb the menace," said Sharanjeet Singh, another local.

The IMD has forecasted that the minimum and the maximum temperature in the capital will be around 21 and 33 degrees Celsius, respectively, throughout the day. The humidity will be 47 per cent with wind speed 10 kilometres per hour.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

Delhi is once again inching towards the worst time of the year in terms of air pollution, as the national capital`s air quality is getting toxic day by day. The government-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) on Friday said overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital with Particulate Matter (PM) 2.

Delhi is once again inching towards the worst time of the year in terms of air pollution, as the national capital`s air quality is getting toxic day by day. The government-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR) on Friday said overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital with Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 was detected at 375, which falls in the ` very poor` category. An AQI between 0-50 is considered good, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and 401-500 severe or hazardous. At Mathura road, major pollutant PM 2.5 was detected at 267 (hazardous), while in Dhirpur and Delhi University, the air quality dipped to the `very poor` category at 316 and 309, respectively. In Chandni Chowk also, the air quality plunged to `poor category` at 276 AQI. "During morning walk we feel irritation in eyes due to dust and smog in the air. I also feel breathless after jogging for a few minutes. People are using more and more cars which is why pollution is increasing in Delhi," said Raj Kumar, a local. "I feel suffocated when I go for a walk at India Gate. The pollution is increasing in Delhi. I request the government to take requisite measures to curb the menace," said Sharanjeet Singh, another local. The IMD has forecasted that the minimum and the maximum temperature in the capital will be around 21 and 33 degrees Celsius, respectively, throughout the day. The humidity will be 47 per cent with wind speed 10 kilometres per hour.

Delhi chokes with dusty haze, air quality remains 'very poor'

Air quality in Delhi-NCR has improved and the number of days with "bad" air quality has come down by 33 per cent, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said Thursday.

Speaking at an event to mark World Environment Day, which was on June 5, the minister said the situation "is not as bad" as being portrayed in the media.

"Media reports are always creating a picture that lakhs of people are dying of air pollution but it is not as bad. Yes pollution is there but efforts are on," Javadekar said.

"Number of poor air quality days in Delhi in 2016 used to be 246, and in 2014 they used to be around 300, in 2017 it came down to 213 and now it has come down to 206. I am confident that when 2019 figures will come, the number of poor air quality days will further come down. This is a tremendous success. The days of poor quality air have reduced. It is a significant improvement," he said.

He also said that the number of days with 'moderate' to 'good' air quality has increased from 108 in 2016 to 159 in 2018.

"Moderate to good days have increased. 108 days of moderate air quality in 2016 have increased to 152 in 2017 and now they have gone up to 159 days.&nbsp; 
This progress in good air days are the result of concerted efforts of last four years for the capital and NCR," he said, adding that air quality monitoring systems which record the air quality index (AQI) show improvement in air quality.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

Calling for people's participation, the minister said that just wearing masks will not help and every individual has to act responsibly towards environment.

"Just wearing masks won't help. People have to actively participate and act responsible towards environment. We have to save water and electricity, take cycle for distance up to two km, use public transport, maintain vehicles. All these activities will help reduce pollution. We will do better," he said at the event on the theme of 'Beat Air Pollution'.

In his address, Minister of State for Environment Babul Supriyo urged people to use car pool at least once in a week to contribute to the cause of environment and "not be afraid of the alarming figures in the war against pollution".

He also said the ministry has now become a 24-hour working ministry as his senior minister wakes up at 4 am and he sleeps at 4 am.

"With my inclusion in this ministry, it has become a 24-hour ministry because my minister (Javadekar) wakes up at 4 am and I sleep at 4 am," he said.

He said there was a lot that needs to be done for the environment and referred to his daughter's WhatsApp group saying they had a lot of ideas to protect environment.

"My daughter studies in Bombay and she has a WhatsApp group to which I was added and I am amazed to see the ideas they all come up with to protect the planet," he said.

The event was attended by several senior officials of the ministry of environment, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) chairman S P S Parihar and officials from several state pollution control boards.

During the event, MoUs were signed between IITs across the country and respective state pollution control boards for joint efforts in combating air pollution.

The ministry also released several publications, including Orchids of India by Botanical Survey of India which identified over 700 species of orchids in the country.

Another book - Plant Discoveries - was released in which 438 plant species have been added to the Indian flora in 2018.

"I want to congratulate Botanical Survey of India and those who have identified 438 species of plants. I also congratulate the Zoological Survey of India for identifying 179 new species and I appreciate their research. National Tiger Conservation Authority has also made an immense contribution in tiger conservation," Javadekar said.&nbsp;

Air quality in Delhi-NCR has improved and the number of days with "bad" air quality has come down by 33 per cent, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said Thursday.

Air quality in Delhi-NCR has improved and the number of days with "bad" air quality has come down by 33 per cent, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said Thursday. Speaking at an event to mark World Environment Day, which was on June 5, the minister said the situation "is not as bad" as being portrayed in the media. "Media reports are always creating a picture that lakhs of people are dying of air pollution but it is not as bad. Yes pollution is there but efforts are on," Javadekar said. "Number of poor air quality days in Delhi in 2016 used to be 246, and in 2014 they used to be around 300, in 2017 it came down to 213 and now it has come down to 206. I am confident that when 2019 figures will come, the number of poor air quality days will further come down. This is a tremendous success. The days of poor quality air have reduced. It is a significant improvement," he said. He also said that the number of days with 'moderate' to 'good' air quality has increased from 108 in 2016 to 159 in 2018. "Moderate to good days have increased. 108 days of moderate air quality in 2016 have increased to 152 in 2017 and now they have gone up to 159 days. This progress in good air days are the result of concerted efforts of last four years for the capital and NCR," he said, adding that air quality monitoring systems which record the air quality index (AQI) show improvement in air quality. An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered 'good', 51 and 100 'satisfactory', 101 and 200 'moderate', 201 and 300 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'. Calling for people's participation, the minister said that just wearing masks will not help and every individual has to act responsibly towards environment. "Just wearing masks won't help. People have to actively participate and act responsible towards environment. We have to save water and electricity, take cycle for distance up to two km, use public transport, maintain vehicles. All these activities will help reduce pollution. We will do better," he said at the event on the theme of 'Beat Air Pollution'. In his address, Minister of State for Environment Babul Supriyo urged people to use car pool at least once in a week to contribute to the cause of environment and "not be afraid of the alarming figures in the war against pollution". He also said the ministry has now become a 24-hour working ministry as his senior minister wakes up at 4 am and he sleeps at 4 am. "With my inclusion in this ministry, it has become a 24-hour ministry because my minister (Javadekar) wakes up at 4 am and I sleep at 4 am," he said. He said there was a lot that needs to be done for the environment and referred to his daughter's WhatsApp group saying they had a lot of ideas to protect environment. "My daughter studies in Bombay and she has a WhatsApp group to which I was added and I am amazed to see the ideas they all come up with to protect the planet," he said. The event was attended by several senior officials of the ministry of environment, Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) chairman S P S Parihar and officials from several state pollution control boards. During the event, MoUs were signed between IITs across the country and respective state pollution control boards for joint efforts in combating air pollution. The ministry also released several publications, including Orchids of India by Botanical Survey of India which identified over 700 species of orchids in the country. Another book - Plant Discoveries - was released in which 438 plant species have been added to the Indian flora in 2018. "I want to congratulate Botanical Survey of India and those who have identified 438 species of plants. I also congratulate the Zoological Survey of India for identifying 179 new species and I appreciate their research. National Tiger Conservation Authority has also made an immense contribution in tiger conservation," Javadekar said.

Delhi's 'bad air' days down by 33%: Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar

Dense fog on Wednesday blanketed the national capital and affected railway operations here, with around 12 trains being affected due to low visibility conditions.

The list of the delayed trains included Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express, Howrah-New Delhi Poorva Express, Bhagalpur-Anand Vihar Garib Rath Express, Varanasi-New Delhi Kashi Vishwanath Express and New Jalpaiguri-New Delhi Express.

Most of the trains were running late between two to three hours.

With Delhi already being shrouded in a blanket of fog, the city's air quality is also on the poor side, with the index touching the 'severe'&nbsp;category.

According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 402 till 8 am, which fall in the 'hazardous'&nbsp;or 'severe'&nbsp;category.

The AQI between the range of 51 to 100 is considered as satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 falls under the category of poor. 300-400 is considered as 'very poor'&nbsp;and range between 401-500 falls under the category as 'hazardous'.

Within the national capital, the AQI of most places clocked in the 'severe category'.

At Dhirpur, Delhi University, Pitampura, Chandni Chowk and Mathura Road, the index clocked at 425, 539, 482, 442, and 433, respectively.

The AQI at IGI Airport, Pusa Road and Lodhi Road clocked in the 'very poor category'&nbsp;with the index at 363, 319 and 308, respectively.

Meanwhile, the maximum temperature on Tuesday was recorded at 23 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 4 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal, as per the India Meterological Department (IMD).

The cold wave is expected to grip the national in the next few days with the maximum and minimum temperatures are forecast at 24 degrees Celsius and 6 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, respectively.

As temperatures dipped in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), the homeless people, who are the worst sufferers in the chilly weather season, continued to turn towards crowded night shelters in different parts of the city to escape the icy cold winds.

Meanwhile, the IMD said that an active western disturbance is very likely to cause fairly widespread rain and snow over western Himalayan region and isolated rainfall over Punjab and northern parts of Haryana during the next 24 hours.

"Likely cloud cover and enhanced humidity could lead to further gradual increase in night minimum temperatures over parts of northwest India, thereby reducing the severity of cold wave conditions during next 24 hours. However, dense fog conditions are likely to occur during late night to morning hours over these regions, especially on January 2 and 3," the weather agency said in a bulletin.

The IMD further said that another active western disturbance is likely to cause widespread rain and snow with isolated heavy falls over western Himalayan region and scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with isolated hailstorms over parts of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi on January 4 and 5.&nbsp;

Most of the trains were running late between two to three hours.

Dense fog on Wednesday blanketed the national capital and affected railway operations here, with around 12 trains being affected due to low visibility conditions. The list of the delayed trains included Puri-New Delhi Purushottam Express, Howrah-New Delhi Poorva Express, Bhagalpur-Anand Vihar Garib Rath Express, Varanasi-New Delhi Kashi Vishwanath Express and New Jalpaiguri-New Delhi Express. Most of the trains were running late between two to three hours. With Delhi already being shrouded in a blanket of fog, the city's air quality is also on the poor side, with the index touching the 'severe' category. According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR), the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 402 till 8 am, which fall in the 'hazardous' or 'severe' category. The AQI between the range of 51 to 100 is considered as satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 falls under the category of poor. 300-400 is considered as 'very poor' and range between 401-500 falls under the category as 'hazardous'. Within the national capital, the AQI of most places clocked in the 'severe category'. At Dhirpur, Delhi University, Pitampura, Chandni Chowk and Mathura Road, the index clocked at 425, 539, 482, 442, and 433, respectively. The AQI at IGI Airport, Pusa Road and Lodhi Road clocked in the 'very poor category' with the index at 363, 319 and 308, respectively. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature on Tuesday was recorded at 23 degrees Celsius, three degrees above normal, while the minimum temperature settled at 4 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal, as per the India Meterological Department (IMD). The cold wave is expected to grip the national in the next few days with the maximum and minimum temperatures are forecast at 24 degrees Celsius and 6 degrees Celsius on Wednesday, respectively. As temperatures dipped in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), the homeless people, who are the worst sufferers in the chilly weather season, continued to turn towards crowded night shelters in different parts of the city to escape the icy cold winds. Meanwhile, the IMD said that an active western disturbance is very likely to cause fairly widespread rain and snow over western Himalayan region and isolated rainfall over Punjab and northern parts of Haryana during the next 24 hours. "Likely cloud cover and enhanced humidity could lead to further gradual increase in night minimum temperatures over parts of northwest India, thereby reducing the severity of cold wave conditions during next 24 hours. However, dense fog conditions are likely to occur during late night to morning hours over these regions, especially on January 2 and 3," the weather agency said in a bulletin. The IMD further said that another active western disturbance is likely to cause widespread rain and snow with isolated heavy falls over western Himalayan region and scattered to fairly widespread rainfall with isolated hailstorms over parts of Punjab and Haryana, Chandigarh and Delhi on January 4 and 5.

Delhi: 12 trains delayed due to fog, air quality in 'severe' category

For the third consecutive day, the air quality in <a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/cold-wave-northern-states-shiver-under-tough-conditions-187640">the national capital </a>was in the severe category on Tuesday.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall air quality index (AQI) in the national capital on New Year's Day was 404, while the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) recorded an AQI of 405, both of which are under the 'severe' category.&nbsp;

Nineteen areas in Delhi recorded 'severe' pollution, while 14 witnessed 'very poor' air quality, the CPCB data showed.

Ghaziabad and Noida recorded 'severe' air quality, while in Faridabad and Gurgaon recorded it was in the 'very poor' category.

The overall PM2.5 level (fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers) was recorded at 280 and the PM10 level at 465 in Delhi, the CPCB said.

The SAFAR has said the air quality would improve slightly "provided that no additional local emissions are added on New Year eve".

"Any new trigger in terms of additional local emission, particularly from open fire, pyrotechnic display and fossil fuel burning may make air heavier and thick with low ventilation, and may lead to rapid deterioration in air quality to severe-plus range," the SAFAR said.

But despite warnings, several instances of firecracker bursting, before and after the time limit fixed by the apex court, were observed in Delhi-NCR during New Year celebrations.

The SAFAR said the air quality in Delhi is likely to remain in the 'severe' zone for the next two days as weather conditions are more adverse now.

"The deterioration in speed of moisture-laden wind from west may become fatal at this stage and any new trigger, in terms of local emission, particularly from open fires, firecrackers and (burning of) fossil fuels will fast deteriorate the air quality and keep it in the 'severe' category," it said.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and SAFAR said the air quality is likely to remain in the 'severe' category owing to low wind speed, which is highly unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants.

The authorities warned that moderate fog and emissions during night hours may result in deterioration of the air quality and this situation may prevail till Wednesday.

The SAFAR also pointed out that a consistent day-night trend is being observed for the past week.

"During night, a combination of calm wind and colder condition is elevating the pollution level. In many locations, 24-hour rolling average (AQI) is touching 'severe' levels for a few hours, whereas during the day wind is picking up speed slightly and temperature is increasing to keep the level in the 'very poor' range," it said.&nbsp;

Ghaziabad and Noida recorded 'severe' air quality, while in Faridabad and Gurgaon recorded it was in the 'very poor' category.

For the third consecutive day, the air quality in the national capital was in the severe category on Tuesday. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the overall air quality index (AQI) in the national capital on New Year's Day was 404, while the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) recorded an AQI of 405, both of which are under the 'severe' category. Nineteen areas in Delhi recorded 'severe' pollution, while 14 witnessed 'very poor' air quality, the CPCB data showed. Ghaziabad and Noida recorded 'severe' air quality, while in Faridabad and Gurgaon recorded it was in the 'very poor' category. The overall PM2.5 level (fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers) was recorded at 280 and the PM10 level at 465 in Delhi, the CPCB said. The SAFAR has said the air quality would improve slightly "provided that no additional local emissions are added on New Year eve". "Any new trigger in terms of additional local emission, particularly from open fire, pyrotechnic display and fossil fuel burning may make air heavier and thick with low ventilation, and may lead to rapid deterioration in air quality to severe-plus range," the SAFAR said. But despite warnings, several instances of firecracker bursting, before and after the time limit fixed by the apex court, were observed in Delhi-NCR during New Year celebrations. The SAFAR said the air quality in Delhi is likely to remain in the 'severe' zone for the next two days as weather conditions are more adverse now. "The deterioration in speed of moisture-laden wind from west may become fatal at this stage and any new trigger, in terms of local emission, particularly from open fires, firecrackers and (burning of) fossil fuels will fast deteriorate the air quality and keep it in the 'severe' category," it said. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) and SAFAR said the air quality is likely to remain in the 'severe' category owing to low wind speed, which is highly unfavourable for dispersion of pollutants. The authorities warned that moderate fog and emissions during night hours may result in deterioration of the air quality and this situation may prevail till Wednesday. The SAFAR also pointed out that a consistent day-night trend is being observed for the past week. "During night, a combination of calm wind and colder condition is elevating the pollution level. In many locations, 24-hour rolling average (AQI) is touching 'severe' levels for a few hours, whereas during the day wind is picking up speed slightly and temperature is increasing to keep the level in the 'very poor' range," it said.

Delhi's air quality in 'severe' category for third consecutive day

Delhi's air quality slipped into the 'severe' category on Sunday due to unfavourable meteorological conditions slowing down dispersion of pollutants, authorities said.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed the overall air quality index (AQI) of Delhi at 412, which falls in the 'severe category', while the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) recorded an AQI of 388, which comes under the 'very poor' category.

The SAFAR also pointed out that a consistent day-night trend is observed for the past one week.

"During night, combination of calm wind and colder conditions is elevating the pollution level, where in many locations, 24-hour rolling average (AQI) is touching 'severe' levels for a few hours, whereas during the day, wind speed is picking up slightly and temperature is increasing to keep the level in the 'very poor' range," it said.

The air quality slipped into the 'severe' category on Sunday morning for this fourth time in 10 days.

Delhi's air quality has oscillated between the 'very poor' and the 'severe' categories during this period.

According to the CPCB data, 27 areas recorded 'severe' pollution, while eight areas witnessed 'very poor' air quality.

In the NCR, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded 'severe' air quality, while Faridabad recorded 'very poor' quality air.

The overall PM2.5 level (fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) was recorded at 339 and the PM10 level at 506 in Delhi, the CPCB said.

The national capital recorded its second-highest pollution level of the year on Sunday with an AQI of 450. The air quality remained 'severe' Monday and Tuesday. There was a slight drop in the pollution level and the air quality had moved to the 'very poor' category Wednesday.

On Thursday, the air quality had again worsened and turned 'severe'. 
According to the SAFAR, the air quality over Delhi has deteriorated slightly and touched the upper side of the 'very poor' category.

"Air quality over Delhi is very poor, which may improve slightly as winds are relatively high during the day but predicted to deteriorate by tomorrow as wind speed is unlikely to remain the same and other meteorological conditions are already not favourable. Cold wave conditions are likely to persist at least for the next two days," the SAFAR said.

"The air quality index will continue to fluctuate between 360-380 for the next three days, which comes under the 'very poor' category," it added.

Delhi's air quality slipped into the 'severe' category on Sunday due to unfavourable meteorological conditions slowing down dispersion of pollutants, authorities said.

Delhi's air quality slipped into the 'severe' category on Sunday due to unfavourable meteorological conditions slowing down dispersion of pollutants, authorities said. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data showed the overall air quality index (AQI) of Delhi at 412, which falls in the 'severe category', while the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR) recorded an AQI of 388, which comes under the 'very poor' category. The SAFAR also pointed out that a consistent day-night trend is observed for the past one week. "During night, combination of calm wind and colder conditions is elevating the pollution level, where in many locations, 24-hour rolling average (AQI) is touching 'severe' levels for a few hours, whereas during the day, wind speed is picking up slightly and temperature is increasing to keep the level in the 'very poor' range," it said. The air quality slipped into the 'severe' category on Sunday morning for this fourth time in 10 days. Delhi's air quality has oscillated between the 'very poor' and the 'severe' categories during this period. According to the CPCB data, 27 areas recorded 'severe' pollution, while eight areas witnessed 'very poor' air quality. In the NCR, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded 'severe' air quality, while Faridabad recorded 'very poor' quality air. The overall PM2.5 level (fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) was recorded at 339 and the PM10 level at 506 in Delhi, the CPCB said. The national capital recorded its second-highest pollution level of the year on Sunday with an AQI of 450. The air quality remained 'severe' Monday and Tuesday. There was a slight drop in the pollution level and the air quality had moved to the 'very poor' category Wednesday. On Thursday, the air quality had again worsened and turned 'severe'. According to the SAFAR, the air quality over Delhi has deteriorated slightly and touched the upper side of the 'very poor' category. "Air quality over Delhi is very poor, which may improve slightly as winds are relatively high during the day but predicted to deteriorate by tomorrow as wind speed is unlikely to remain the same and other meteorological conditions are already not favourable. Cold wave conditions are likely to persist at least for the next two days," the SAFAR said. "The air quality index will continue to fluctuate between 360-380 for the next three days, which comes under the 'very poor' category," it added.

Delhi's air quality turns 'severe' due to unfavourable meteorological conditions: Authorities

Delhi's air quality was recorded in the 'very poor' category Saturday, but remained on the brink of turning 'severe' due to drop in temperature and unfavourable meteorological conditions slowing down dispersion of pollutants, authorities said.

The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) data showed the overall air quality index (AQI) in the national capital at 389 and 369, respectively -- both of which fall in the 'very poor' category.

The air quality slipped briefly into the 'severe' category Saturday morning but turned 'very poor' by afternoon. Delhi's air quality has been oscillating between 'very poor' and 'severe' categories for the past 10 days.

According to CPCB data, 15 areas recorded 'severe' pollution, while 21 areas witnessed 'very poor' air quality.

In the national capital region (NCR), Ghaziabad recorded 'severe' air quality, while Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded 'very poor' air quality.

The overall PM2.5 level -- fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres -- was recorded at 234 and the PM10 level at 380 in Delhi, the CPCB said.

The national capital recorded its second highest pollution level of the year Sunday with an AQI of 450. The air quality remained 'severe' Monday and Tuesday. There was a slight drop in the pollution level and the air quality moved to the 'very poor' category Wednesday.

On Thursday, the air quality again worsened and turned 'severe'. 
According to the SAFAR, Delhi's air quality has deteriorated slightly and touched upper side of the 'very poor' category.

"Air quality over Delhi is very poor which may improve slightly as winds are relatively high during day but predicted to deteriorate by tomorrow as winds speed is unlikely to remain the same and other meteorological conditions are already not favourable. Cold wave conditions are likely to persist at least for next 2 days," the SAFAR said.

"The air quality index will continue to fluctuate between 360-380 for the next 3 days which falls under upper side of 'very poor' category," it added.

The SAFAR also pointed out that a consistent "day-night trend" is observed for the past one week.

"During night, combination of calm wind and colder conditions is elevating the pollution level where in many locations, 24hr rolling average (AQI) is touching severe levels for few hours whereas during the day, wind speed is picking up slightly and temperature is increasing to keep level in very poor range," it said.

Delhi's air quality was recorded in the 'very poor' category Saturday, but remained on the brink of turning 'severe' due to drop in temperature and unfavourable meteorological conditions slowing down dispersion of pollutants, authorities said.

Delhi's air quality was recorded in the 'very poor' category Saturday, but remained on the brink of turning 'severe' due to drop in temperature and unfavourable meteorological conditions slowing down dispersion of pollutants, authorities said. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and the Centre-run System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) data showed the overall air quality index (AQI) in the national capital at 389 and 369, respectively -- both of which fall in the 'very poor' category. The air quality slipped briefly into the 'severe' category Saturday morning but turned 'very poor' by afternoon. Delhi's air quality has been oscillating between 'very poor' and 'severe' categories for the past 10 days. According to CPCB data, 15 areas recorded 'severe' pollution, while 21 areas witnessed 'very poor' air quality. In the national capital region (NCR), Ghaziabad recorded 'severe' air quality, while Faridabad, Gurgaon and Noida recorded 'very poor' air quality. The overall PM2.5 level -- fine particulate matter in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres -- was recorded at 234 and the PM10 level at 380 in Delhi, the CPCB said. The national capital recorded its second highest pollution level of the year Sunday with an AQI of 450. The air quality remained 'severe' Monday and Tuesday. There was a slight drop in the pollution level and the air quality moved to the 'very poor' category Wednesday. On Thursday, the air quality again worsened and turned 'severe'. According to the SAFAR, Delhi's air quality has deteriorated slightly and touched upper side of the 'very poor' category. "Air quality over Delhi is very poor which may improve slightly as winds are relatively high during day but predicted to deteriorate by tomorrow as winds speed is unlikely to remain the same and other meteorological conditions are already not favourable. Cold wave conditions are likely to persist at least for next 2 days," the SAFAR said. "The air quality index will continue to fluctuate between 360-380 for the next 3 days which falls under upper side of 'very poor' category," it added. The SAFAR also pointed out that a consistent "day-night trend" is observed for the past one week. "During night, combination of calm wind and colder conditions is elevating the pollution level where in many locations, 24hr rolling average (AQI) is touching severe levels for few hours whereas during the day, wind speed is picking up slightly and temperature is increasing to keep level in very poor range," it said.

Delhi air quality 'very poor', expected to deteriorate on Sunday

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