Air quality in Delhi-NCR further deteriorates, AQI hits ‘severe’ level

The air quality in Delhi reached ‘severe’ levels in areas like Punjabi Bagh, Wazirpur, and Ashok Vihar, days after Diwali. The overall AQI in the city was hazardous, with PM 2.5 levels exceeding the WHO-prescribed limit by 65 times. In Noida and Gurugram, the air quality also worsened, attributed to firecracker smoke and stubble burning in neighboring states. Despite anti-pollution measures like GRAP II, Delhi’s air quality has been deteriorating. A survey found that 69% of families have members suffering from respiratory illnesses due to pollution-related issues.