New Delhi, Dec. 22 -- The national capital was enveloped in a thick layer of toxic smog on Monday evening, significantly impairing visibility and affecting residents as the Air Quality Index (AQI) reading soared at 390 at around 11 pm, falling into the 'severe' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The air quality spiked to 'severe' levels at certain places. Multiple parts of the city continued to witness alarmingly high pollution levels.

Several pollution hotspots included Anand Vihar (432), Ashok Vihar (407), and the ITO area (429), also falling under the 'severe' category across large swathes of the national capital.

India Gate, Kartavya Path and Rashtrapati Bhavan were blanketed by toxic smog, with an A...