The AQI in some areas of Delhi stood between 800-1100 - ‘hazardous’ category - at the time of last update in this report, as per Swiss air tech company IQAir.

Delhi continues to battle severe air pollution, with the air quality index (AQI) remaining in the “severe” category for the third consecutive day. The AQI stands at 498, making Delhi the world’s second most polluted city, behind Lahore, Pakistan, which recorded an AQI of 770 at 7 am, according to IQAir, a Swiss air quality monitoring company.

As the Capital grapples under deteriorating air quality, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage III has been imposed by the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM).

In the worst case of air pollution in the world, an area in Pakistan's Lahore recorded an AQI of nearly 1600 on Friday. According to Swiss monitor IQAir, the CERP Office area in Lahore had an AQI of 1587 on Friday morning.

The introduction of Stage 3 in the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) includes specific limitations to reduce air pollution, focusing on emissions from construction and vehicles. THREE new restrictions will be implemented on November 15 due to residents' construction and demolition limitations.

Delhi is facing a pollution emergency as AQI exceeds 450. New restrictions, including diesel vehicle bans and school closures, are now in effect to combat the worsening air quality.

GRAP stage 3 will come into force at 8am on Friday. The Delhi government announced that classes for primary schools will be shifted to online.

Northern India encountered the recurring annual pre-winter event of air emergency where the Air Quality Index (AQI) readings of main pollutant PM 2.5 breached the 400-mark of “very poor” and landed the air of Delhi, Punjab and other northern cities into the “hazardous” category.

Air pollution choking New Delhi has ground outdoor work to a halt and disrupted air travel in the Indian capital.

As Delhi's air quality dropped to 'severe', Delhi Chief Minister Atishi announced that all primary schools in the national capital would be shifted to online modules. In a post on X, Atishi said that the online sessions will continue till further directions.

Delhi residents woke up to ‘severe’ air quality on Thursday morning (November 14), a day after the national capital recorded the worst AQI in the country, with dense fog blanketing the NCR, reducing visibility.