NEW DELHI, Dec 23: Delhi woke up to choking air on Tuesday morning as dense fog and haze enveloped the city, pushing air quality into the hazardous zone. The Air Quality Index (AQI) crossed the 400 mark—classified as severe—at 27 monitoring stations, while several others slipped into the severe-plus category, posing serious health risks to residents.
At 9 am, the city’s overall AQI stood at 415, marking a sharp deterioration from the very poor category recorded a day earlier, according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The steady rise in pollution levels has raised concerns over prolonged exposure to toxic air.
Of the 40 air quality monitoring stations across the national capital, 27 reported AQI readings above 400—levels known to cause severe respiratory distress and other serious health complications, particularly among children, the elderly, and those with pre-existing conditions.
