Delhi chokes in smog; Guwahati, Thiruvananthapuram among least polluted cities

As winter tightens its grip, North India is grappling with worsening air pollution, with several cities registering air quality in the “severe” and “poor” categories. Delhi’s air quality, which reached the “severe-plus” category on Sunday evening, further deteriorated on Monday, dropping to 495 on the air quality index (AQI) by 1 pm. This marked the worst air quality of the season.
Particulate matter hovering over the national capital has turned the sky to a muted grey, triggering widespread suffering, schools switching to online classes, and other disruptions.

As of Monday afternoon, three major cities recorded “poor” air quality, ten fell into the “moderate” category, and only two were rated “satisfactory,” according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board.