India, Oct. 19 -- Delhi's air quality continued to deteriorate on Sunday, staying in the "poor" category for the sixth consecutive day, as several areas slipped into the "very poor" and "severe" zones ahead of Diwali celebrations.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 274 at 5:30 am, placing the capital in the "poor" category.

By 7 am, multiple monitoring stations in Delhi registered alarming AQI levels. Anand Vihar recorded the highest at 426, entering the "severe" zone. RK Puram (322) and Vivek Vihar (349) remained in "very poor" category. Other areas such as Ashok Vihar (304), Bawana (303), and Jahangirpuri (314) also remained in the "very poor" category.

According t...