As national capital's AQI nears 500 mark, Delhi environment minister and AAP leader Gopal Rai has asked Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav to 'reconsider cloud seeding' as an emergency measure.

The Air Quality Index spiked to an alarming 494 under the 'severe plus' category, with a thick layer of smog blanketing the national capital.

Tuesday’s air quality was worse than Monday’s which had recorded the worst air quality of the season till then.

The residents of Delhi-NCR woke up to severe cold, haze, and 'hazardous' air quality on Tuesday, with most AQI stations touching 500-mark (severe plus). According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB),

Air quality in northern India has worsened over the past week, with New Delhi's AQI recording a reading of 465, classified as "severe plus category", on Sunday evening due to unfavourable meteorological conditions,

The Centre's air quality panel has announced stricter pollution control measures for the Delhi-NCR under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), effective from 8 am on Monday, including a b