Delhi’s air quality on Tuesday deteriorated sharply, slipping into the ‘severe’ category for the first time this season and adding to residents’ discomfort.

At 4 p.m., the city’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 426, entering the dark red zone and marking the season’s highest level after Monday’s reading of 391, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

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After remaining in the “very poor” range for several days, the air quality worsened early Tuesday morning as stagnant weather conditions and local emissions combined to trap pollutants near the surface.

Out of 39 air quality monitoring stations across Delhi, 33 recorded AQI levels above 400, while most of the remaining stations hovered close to the severe threshold. The worst-hit ar

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