New Delhi, Nov 4 — Delhi's air quality deteriorated further on Wednesday, with the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recording a citywide Air Quality Index (AQI) of 373, in the 'very poor' category and the capital's worst reading in 287 days, The Daily Jagran reported. A separate morning snapshot put the overall AQI at 377 at 8 a.m., with air in the 'severe' category for a second straight day, according to Inshorts.

Source: The Daily Jagran

Several pockets were far worse than the city average. Jagran, citing CPCB readings, reported early-hour AQI levels above 500 at some industrial locations, with Alipur at 619 and Mundka at 722 among the reported station readings, followed by Punjabi Bagh at 490, Jhilmil Industrial Area at 479, Mandir Marg at 418, Rohini at 433, Sonia Vihar at 425 and Bawana at 361.

The slide has been rapid: Delhi's average AQI stood at 261 on November 1, rose to 324 on November 2 and reached 350 by Tuesday afternoon, before Wednesday's 373. Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been in force across Delhi-NCR since November 2, with higher parking fees, intensified road sweeping and dust control, and more Metro and bus services among the measures in place.

Source: Mirror Now

Jagran attributed the worsening to a drop in temperature that slowed wind movement, together with a surge in stubble-burning cases and reduced rain. The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology's decision support system had projected the farm-fire share of Delhi's pollution to rise to about 20 per cent on November 4 and 22 per cent on November 5, Mirror Now reported, and the Air Quality Early Warning System expects 'very poor' air to continue through November 6.

The readings also sharpened the political argument. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged that Punjab Police personnel have been involved in stubble-burning cases in Punjab and said the Punjab government had spent Rs 20-25 crore on advertisements claiming no stubble burning was taking place — allegations reported by Jagran. The Aam Aadmi Party accused the Delhi government of making excuses for its own failures, Jagran reported.