Delhi's AQI plunges to 'severe' after 24 days

The national capital's air quality plummeted to alarming levels on Tuesday after a gap of 24 days, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) entering the 'severe' category.

- 

This decline comes despite stringent anti-pollution measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), including a ban on construction activities and the entry of trucks into the city.

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's 24-hour average AQI soared to 433 at 4 pm, up from 379 on Monday. This marked the first instance of severe pollution since November 23, when the AQI stood at 412. Of the 35 monitoring stations across the city, 28 recorded 'severe' air quality levels, with several surpassing the 'severe plus' threshold of 450.

The spike in pollution has been attributed to a significant drop in wind speeds, which has trapped local pollutants within the city. Experts suggest that Delhi's AQI is likely to remain in the 'severe' category for the next two days unless meteorological conditions improve.