Pollution continues to wreak havoc in Delhi, with the AQI reaching 384 amid toxic air and cold wave.:

News Topical, Digital Desk : Dense fog engulfed many parts of Delhi on Saturday morning, reducing visibility significantly and the national capital's air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 384, well within the 'severe' category. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor' and 401 and 500 'severe'.

Safdarjung has the lowest visibility

According to official data, the lowest visibility was recorded at Safdarjung, dropping to 200 meters at 8:30 am. Palam was followed by 350 meters. Officials said dense smog and fog enveloped many parts of the capital on Saturday morning, significantly reducing visibility. According to CPCB data, 16 of Delhi's 40 air quality monitoring stations recorded the AQI in the "severe" category, while 24 recorded it in the "very poor" category.

The situation has worsened compared to Friday.

ITO remained the worst with an AQI of 437. On Friday, Delhi's AQI was recorded at 374, with 11 of the 40 monitoring stations in the 'severe' category and 29 in the 'very poor' category. The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) for Delhi has predicted that pollution levels may worsen over the next two days due to adverse weather conditions and may reach the 'severe' category on Sunday and Monday.

Ban on vehicles below BS-6

To reduce pollution levels, a ban on private vehicles outside Delhi that are below the BS-VI standard came into effect on Thursday. The "No PUC, No Fuel" rule is also being strictly enforced. Under the "No PUC, No Fuel" rule, vehicles that do not have a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate are not being fueled at petrol pumps.

According to the pollution measuring app 'Sameer', the AQI of Noida was recorded at 416 on Saturday, while it was 362 in Greater Noida, 360 in Ghaziabad and 348 in Gurugram.