Delhi NCR stays under 'severe' air quality; schools shut, cloud over cricket match

The pollution could also impact Monday's Cricket World Cup match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, to be played in Delhi

Delhi woke up on Sunday morning swathed in a thick layer of smoke and haze and gasping for breaths as the air quality sustained in the 'severe' category without any sign of a breather from the toxic smog in sight.

The Central Pollution Control Board data shows that the air quality index in most regions of the city was above 400 and hovering over 500 in some areas by 6am on November 5. The air quality index (AQI) in Aya Nagar was 464, Dwarka Sector 8 was 486, Bawana was 479, Indira Gandhi International Airport was 480, ITO was 410, Jahangirpuri was 463, Lodhi Road was 426, and Siri Fort was 475.

Noida, which is part of the National Capital Region (NCR), also stayed under the 'severe' air quality with almost all of its monitoring stations recording an AQI over 400 as of 6am, according to the CPCB data. Gurugram too recorded 'severe' category on Sunday.

The Delhi government has ordered all primary schools to remain closed on Friday and Saturday due to severe air pollution. The decision to extend the closure will be taken on Monday. Additional measures have been put in place in Delhi, Noida, Gurugram, and Faridabad, which are part of the National Capital Region (NCR), to tackle the pollution.

The upcoming Cricket World Cup match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, scheduled on Monday in Delhi, may also be affected by the high levels of pollution.