'AQI likely to worsen tomorrow': Delhi chokes under thick smog on Diwali eve

NEW DELHI: Delhi's air quality remained in the 'very poor' category on Saturday, with an AQI of 369 as a thick layer of smog enveloped the city on the eve of Diwali, reducing visibility.

The situation is likely to worsen on Sunday, with air quality expected to remain in the 'severe' category on Diwali, according to the Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS).

The outlook for the subsequent six days indicates that air quality is likely to fluctuate between the 'severe' and 'very poor' categories.

Of the 59 monitoring stations that recorded data, 16 reported 'severe' air quality, while 29 recorded levels in the 'very poor' category. The highest AQI of 452 was recorded near IIT Delhi.

The city's average AQI improved slightly from 382 on Friday to 369 on Saturday, remaining close to the 'severe' threshold of 400. Several monitoring stations have already breached this mark, indicating a deterioration in air quality across the capital city.