Delhi's air quality slips into 'severe' category on Diwali; Mumbai's AQI at 170

Image Credit: Tarun Rawat/TOI

NEW DELHI: Delhi's air quality deteriorated further on Monday morning, with parts of the national capital slipping into the 'severe' category as a thick blanket of smog reduced visibility across several areas.Data shared by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed that the air quality monitoring station at ITO recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 406 at around 4.20am, placing it in the 'Severe' category.Several other parts of Delhi continued to record 'very poor' air quality. Rajiv Chowk recorded an AQI of 381 at 1.30am, while the area around South Extension registered 360 at 4am.The Inderlok area was among the locations affected.Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) remains in force across Delhi-NCR as authorities continue to contend with deteriorating air quality.Mumbai at '170'Diwali celebrations began with the Mumbai enjoying much cleaner air over last year’s but the quality plunged to poor/hazardous at several pl­a­ces amid the firecracker-bu­rsting.In the murk glistened a thin silver lining: firecracker no­ise levels are down compar­ed to two decades ago, coinciding wi­th increasing use of green crackers and more public awareness.The city’s AQI stood at '170' on Monday morning.