Delhi remains shrouded in smog on fourth consecutive day, air quality 'severe'

The national capital and NCR remained engulfed in heavy smog resulting in low visibility even after three days of Diwali.

On 3 November, people in New Delhi woke up to apocalyptic grey skies as heavy smog hung over the city.

Three days after Diwali, the capital's air quality continued to be in the "severe" category despite experts predicting that it would improve to "very poor" by Wednesday.

The Indian Express reported that, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), levels of Particulate Matter (PM) 10 levels touched a record 500 mark on Wednesday.

Prolonged exposure to severe category air may affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing diseases while very poor category may cause respiratory illness. Children, elderly and the sick are considered most vulnerable to the harmful effects of hazardous air. The National Air Quality Index also reported air quality in Delhi at 'severe', with PM 2.5 being the prominent pollutant.

Pollution peaks in the national capital during Diwali as a hazardous mix of noxious gases and respirable pollutants hang very close to the surface due to low temperature and near-stagnant wind movement.

- With ANI inputs