Delhi air quality deteriorates further, slips to 'severe' category

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was at 425 --'severe'-- at 8 am, according to SAFAR

Delhi air became severely polluted on Friday, just days after construction, demolition activities resumed in the national capital and educational institutions reopened for physical classes.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital was at 425 --'severe'-- at 8 am, according to the Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality forecast agency SAFAR. Readings below 50 are considered safe, while anything above 300 is considered hazardous or 'severe'.

The deterioration in Delhi's air quality came after it remained in 'very poor' category for three days. The national capital's air quality had improved to 'poor' last week, in view of which