India, Dec. 19 -- Delhi recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 373 on December 18, according to the 4pm bulletin of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) that gives the 24-hour average of AQI, making it the eighth straight day when the air in the national capital has been in the very poor (301-400) or severe (401 and above) range. With the first eight days of the month also in the very poor range, the average AQI for the month has climbed to 343, the second worst for this part of the month 2015 onward, when CPCB started publishing these bulletins. A higher average was recorded only in 2016, when this number was 366.

To be sure, it is only from 2018 that the average number of functioning air quality stations in Delhi went up to over ...