NEW DELHI: Delhi and its neighbouring areas were blanketed in dense smog on Sunday, as the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) soared to hazardous levels. Early morning readings from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed the AQI at 491 at 7 am, categorising the air as “severe plus”. A thick layer of smog severely reduced visibility across the capital, causing discomfort for commuters. All 40 monitoring stations in the city recorded “severe” pollution levels, with Rohini in northwest Delhi topping the chart at 499. Jahangirpuri and Vivek Vihar followed closely with AQI readings of 495. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) — the strictest pollution control measure under the winter plan — following the

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