Delhi's air quality deteriorated again on Thursday, with the national capital recording an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 321 in the 'very poor' category at 7 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data reported by news agency ANI. The reading was 319 in the early morning hours, IANS reported.

Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer

PM10 and PM2.5 remained the major pollutants. Among the monitoring stations, NSUT Jaffarpur recorded the highest AQI of 399, followed by Chandni Chowk at 387, Pusa at 386, NSIT Dwarka at 383 and JNU at 378, according to the CPCB data cited by ANI.

Source: ANI via Indian Economic Observer

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) had invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR on November 6, ahead of Diwali, and the restrictions remain in force. Under GRAP Stage III, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers are banned in Delhi and five NCR districts, Jagran reported.

Source: Jagran Josh

In the neighbouring cities, schools in Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad have been directed to run classes in hybrid mode for students up to Class 5. In Ghaziabad, the district administration has ordered strict enforcement of GRAP-III, with all government and private construction and demolition work banned in the district till November 20.

Source: Top Indian News

Among other NCR cities, Noida recorded an AQI of 284, Gurugram 300, Ghaziabad 280 and Faridabad 270, IANS reported. The India Meteorological Department has predicted no rainfall in Delhi between November 10 and 15, so polluted air is expected to persist.

Source: IANS via HiIndia