Delhi’s air quality turns 'severe' for the first time this season

AQI goes above 400 in Delhi

Delhi’s air quality turned severe with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 418 on November 14, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data shows.

Delhi had company in Bihar's Hajipur, the first two cities to record a reading of above 400 this season.

AQI has remained above 300 in the national capital for 15 consecutive days. Besides Delhi, 28 other cities had readings of above 300, most of which were in northern part of the country.

Nearly a third of the cities in the country have poor or worse air quality, with an AQI of above 200.

The number of cities with an AQI above 300 was at the highest level with 26 of 268 cities facing "very poor" air quality.

Among the metros, Mumbai’s air quality remained above 100 for a fourteenth day. AQI was 132 for the financial capital, while Kolkata’s AQI was above 100 on November 14.

Chennai, Hyderabad, and Bengaluru had air quality levels below 100, while Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar had AQIs above 100.

Among the international cities, New York had an AQI of 27, better than 261 Indian cities.

London’s AQI of 48 was better than 240 Indian cities.

Beijing’s AQI at 107 was better than 175 Indian cities.