New Delhi, November 14: Air quality in Delhi remained in the severe category on Thursday as the thick blanket of smog continued to engulf the national capital and its surrounding regions. Visibility around the Rashtrapati Bhavan was also reduced due to smog. The Air Quality Index (AQI) dipped to "severe category" around India gate. The AQI was recorded at 460 in the area. Delhi Air Pollution: Run For Children Event Organised Today, Twitterati Demand Legal Action Against NGO Prayas.

Amid the rising air pollution in Delhi, holiday have been declared in schools for two days till November 15. Private schools were ordered to remain closed for the two days as per the recommendation of Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority.

Earlier in the day, the AQI had reached an alarming level of 470 (severe). The PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels were nearly eight times higher than the normal limits at several locations in the city. According to System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting (SAFAR), no sudden recovery is expected under this condition at least for the next two days and AQI is likely to deteriorate further.

The AQI in the satellites cities of Delhi -- Faridabad (441), Ghaziabad (490), Greater Noida (470), Gurgaon (414) and Noida (486) -- was equally bad. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered "poor", 301-400 "very poor" and 401-500 "severe", while the AQI above 500 falls in the severe plus category.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Nov 14, 2019 06:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).