Delhi declared a public health emergency on Friday and shut down schools for three days till the skies give up its grey colour.
Delhi recorded its worst air quality of the season on Friday as the pollution level touched the ‘severe plus’ category, prompting authorities to shut schools till November 5.
A thicket blanket of grey smog had engulfed the Delhi skies soon after the city was done celebrating Diwali. Days later, on Friday, it worsened as the air quality deteriorated and the pollution level in the region entered the “severe-plus” category”.
The city’s overall air quality index (AQI) was 504 at 3:30 am, but by 4 pm it was recorded at 484 in the ‘severe’ category, according to official data.
The Supreme Court-mandated Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) declared a public health emergency in Delhi-NCR in the wake of a spike in pollution level.
All construction activities in the region have also been banned till November 5.