New Delhi, Dec. 22 -- Delhi residents woke up on Monday morning to foul air as a toxic blanket of smog cloaked the city.
At 6.05 am, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 366, improving slightly from the city's 24-hour rolling average of 377 recorded a day earlier, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The CPCB classifies air quality as 'moderate' when the AQI is between 101 and 200, 'poor' between 201 and 300, and 'very poor' between 301 and 400. AQI levels above 400 fall under the 'severe' category. Prolonged exposure to very poor air can trigger respiratory problems, even in people with no prior illness.
On Sunday, southeasterly winds prevailed over Delhi, with wind speeds gusting up to 12 kmph over the...