The air quality of Delhi further worsened on Wednesday as a thick layer of smog enveloped the national capital in the morning amid rising pollution levels. The air quality of Delhi remained in the ‘very poor’ category with an overall AQI recorded at 363 in the morning.

Air quality in Delhi worsened on Wednesday, reaching the 'very poor' category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 349, according to SAFAR-India.

The Delhi government has already initiated strict measures under Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to improve air quality across the national capital.

The second stage of the Graded Response Action Plan has been implemented in the national capital, banning the use of coal and firewood.

Satellite data recorded 65 active farm fires in Punjab, two in Haryana, and 25 in Uttar Pradesh on Monday, adding to the pollutants in Delhi's air. The burning of crop residue has long been a contentious issue, contributing significantly to Delhi's poor air quality, particularly during the winter season.

Delhi's air quality was recorded in the 'very poor' category on Tuesday. The situation is anticipated to worsen in the coming days, driven largely by increased stubble-burning incidents in neighbouring states such as Haryana and Punjab.

A thick layer of fog was seen in Anand Vihar, Kalkaji, Nehru Place, and Akshardham Temple localities among other places in the national capital, as the city's air quality dropped to 385 at 8 am today.