Delhi's air quality remained in the very poor to severe category on Wednesday morning with the AQI surging past 370, prompting authorities to intensify anti-pollution measures and deploy anti-smog guns across the capital.

Delhi's air quality remained in the very poor to severe category on Wednesday morning with the AQI surging past 370, prompting authorities to intensify anti-pollution measures and deploy anti-smog guns across the capital.

Delhi's air quality remained in the very poor to severe category on Wednesday morning with the AQI surging past 370, prompting authorities to intensify anti-pollution measures and deploy anti-smog guns across the capital.

Delhi air quality on Wednesday morning remains very poor despite the introduction of GRAP-2 anti-pollution restrictions.

The Air Quality Index at 4 pm on Tuesday stood at 350 and has worsened in the last 14 hours, with the latest reading of 379, according to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM).

The city’s overall pollution marker breached 600 in the morning hours. The AQI in Delhi at 7: 41 am stood at 605, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

A private tracker, AQI.in, meanwhile, recorded a reading of 579 and put the National Capital Region in the Hazardous category

High pollution levels were recorded across several monitoring stations in Delhi; Mandir Marg recorded an AQI of 508 and fell under the severe category.

The worst affected region includes Punjabi Bagh, which recorded an AQI of 452, followed by Dhaula Kuan at 417, ITO at 418, RK Puram at 423 and Ghazipur at 410. The air quality around India Gate was 414, with all the locations falling in the severe category.

In Chandni Chowk, the AQI stood at 369, while IGI Airport (T3) registered 358. Lodhi Road and Vasundhara Enclave reported readings of 304 and 328, respectively, with both in the very poor category. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 300, categorised as poor.

The region's AQI has always turned severe every winter. The readings this year may follow the trend despite the latest govt data showing a decline in stubble burning and an increase in crop-residue management, news agency ANI

A brief relief was brought about by wind and showers last week. However, conditions worsened as the rain stopped. The AQI is set to remain very poor over the next few days, according to the department.

Meanwhile, vehicles are being inspected across Delhi, and the Public Works Department has formed two committees comprising eight officials to inspect 200 truck mounted anti-smog guns deployed across Delhi. The guns are tasked with deep cleaning at least 200 meters of road each day.

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