Delhi's AQI remains in 'severe+' zone; state govt pushes for artificial rain, seeks PM's intervention

The national capital witnessed another day of alarmingly high pollution levels on Tuesday.

- AIMAN FATIMA

The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the "severe plus" category, prompting the Delhi government to push for urgent measures, including the induction of artificial rain to combat the crisis. Environment Minister Gopal Rai has called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and expedite the approval for artificial rain to alleviate the worsening pollution levels.

Although the AQI saw a slight improvement, dropping from 494 on Monday to 460 on Tuesday, it still remains dangerously high, well above the threshold for the "severe plus" category. Out of the 32 air monitoring stations in the capital, 23 recorded AQI levels above 450, signifying a critical situation. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that Monday's AQI was the second-worst air quality recorded in Delhi since tracking began in 2015.