Air quality severe in most areas, Live events as a trusted and reliable news source, Live events as a trusted and reliable news source, Add now! (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel) Sunday began in Delhi under a blanket of dense smog, with air quality reaching the ‘severe’ zone despite the highest levels of pollution in the city and the National Capital Region (NCR). The city’s average air quality index (AQI) stood at 461 at 7 am, indicating hazardous conditions, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

Several parts of the capital recorded extremely hazardous conditions. Dense haze prevailed in the morning especially in areas like Ghazipur, ITO and Anand Vihar. Among the worst affected places, AQI was recorded at 497 in the city, followed by 492 in Okhla Phase 2.

The AQI here reached 491, which is in the severe category. Other pollution hotspots include DTU (493), ITO (483) and Nehru Nagar (479), which recorded the lowest AQI in the city, while Najafgarh (411) also remained within the severe limits. The quality remains the same even as the Delhi government’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) comes into effect on Saturday.

Following the Air Quality Management Commission’s decision to tighten restrictions as pollution levels rise, the Directorate of Education directed schools to shift classes up to classes 9 and 11 to hybrid mode. The CPCB classifies AQI readings between 401 and 500 as ‘severe’, a level at which prolonged exposure poses serious health risks to all individuals, including those without pre-existing conditions, As winter conditions intensify and pollutant dispersion remains poor, officials have urged residents to limit outdoor exposure and follow health advisories.