Thick smog, Air Quality remains in 'Very Poor'

Delhi Airport has issued a travel advisory due to poor visibility in the morning….

National capital Delhi witnesses a surge in the smog levels, Despite several preventive measures, a thick layer of smog engulfed the skies over the national capital with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining in the 'Very Poor' category on Friday morning.

According to reports, a thick layer of smog hovered over the skies as Delhiites woke up this morning.

Delhi's air quality was recorded in the "poor" category for the second consecutive day on Thursday. With the air pollution levels in the national capital coming down to the "poor" category from "very poor", the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said it will review the situation on Friday.

The Centre's air quality panel may take a call on revoking the curbs in place in Delhi-NCR under the third stage (severe) of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), an official said on the condition of anonymity.

All construction and demolition work, except for essential projects, is banned in Delhi-NCR under the third stage of the GRAP. Brick kilns, hot mix plants and stone crushers are also not allowed to operate.

Delhi's air quality improved on Wednesday owing to a favorable wind speed at night, sporadic rains in adjoining states and a considerable drop in emissions from stubble burning.

The number of farm fires in Punjab increased from 1,778 on Wednesday to 1,893 on Thursday. The share of farm fires in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution also increased from 5 per cent on Wednesday to 8 percent on Thursday, according to data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute and SAFAR, a forecasting agency under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences.