New Delhi, Jan. 1 -- Delhi's air quality dropped to the 'very poor' category on Thursday, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 371 recorded around 8:00 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), on the very first day of the New Year 2026.

According to data from CPCB, Delhi recorded an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of 371 at 8 pm, placing it firmly in the 'very poor' to 'severe' category.

Several monitoring stations across the capital reported alarming pollution levels. Anand Vihar recorded an AQI of 418, while Wazirpur stood at 414. Rohini reported an AQI of 413, followed by Ashok Vihar at 392. Siri Fort recorded 384, RK Puram logged 381, Chandni Chowk registered 377, and ITO stood at 371.

Despite the deterior...