Photos: Delhi’s severe air quality expected to deteriorate further

On December 23, Delhi’s air quality continued to remain in the severe category with the average hourly air quality index (AQI) reading reaching 435 at 7am. Overall AQI reading on December 22 was 418. Due to slow wind speed, pollution levels are expected to rise till December 26. India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast also suggests a dip in temperature. ...read more

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Updated on Dec 24, 2020 11:28 AM IST

Commuters drive through a thick layer of smog at Azadpur road in New Delhi on December 23. Delhi’s air quality continued to remain in the severe category on December 23 morning, with the average hourly air quality index (AQI) reading reaching 435 at 7am, HT reported. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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A general view of the Shish Gumbad in Lodhi Garden on a smoggy morning in New Delhi on December 23. Overall AQI reading of Delhi on December 22 was 418, in the severe zone. Even though the city’s air quality had been showing a downward trend for the last few days, this was a major deterioration from December 21’s 332, in the very poor category, HT reported citing Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data. (Anushree Fadnavis / REUTERS)

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A cyclist crosses a road in Azadpur, New Delhi on December 23. Delhi’s air quality had reached the severe zone on December 5, when the overall AQI reading of the city was recorded at 404. (Sanchit Khanna / HT Photo)

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Heavy smog on the Delhi-Meerut Expressway on December 22. The pollution levels showed a steady increase from December 22 morning, when the average hourly AQI reading deteriorated from 352 at 7am to 377 at 12pm, before rising above the 400 mark, HT reported. (Sakib Ali / HT Photo)

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People warm themselves around a bonfire near the Yamuna riverbank in Mayur Vihar, New Delhi on December 21. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the temperature is expected to dip and reach around 4 degrees Celsius by December 24. (Raj K Raj / HT Photo)

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A visitor feeds geese at Sanjay Lake on a cold winter morning in New Delhi on December 22. Safdarjung observatory, which is considered the official recording for Delhi, on December 22 recorded a minimum temperature of 5.3 degrees Celsius, three degrees below normal. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

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People play football at Sanjay Lake Park in New Delhi on December 22. The maximum temperature recorded on December 22 was 23.9 degrees Celsius. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)

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Birds seen on a tree branch at Sanjay Lake in New Delhi on December 22. IMD scientists have warned that the forecast does not show any significant improvement in wind speed till December 26, which means that the pollution levels are also expected to be on a rise, HT reported. (Ajay Aggarwal / HT Photo)