India, Dec. 14 -- Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) are seeing another day under a severe blanket of hazardous air quality on Sunday, December 14, following a dramatic spike in pollution levels throughout Saturday.

The morning readings on Sunday said several areas across Delhi were in 'severe' Air Quality Index (AQI) bracket with readings well over 400. According to the Central Pollution Control Board's data, Delhi's overall AQI, as of 7 am on December 14, stood at 461, thus close to the ceiling of the 'severe' category (up to 500). This was worse than Saturday. The reading improved by one point to 460 by 8 am.

Forecasts had indicated the AQI may stay firmly in the "severe" category, with only slight relief anticipated from Mo...