Live updates: Delhi wakes up from its nightmare, for now

While the city breathed easier a day after an “apocalyptic” Sunday, the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority announced on Monday that the ban on industrial activities in the National Capital Region would continue till November 8.

After recording the worst smog episode of the last three years on Sunday, when the region was enveloped in a thick, grey haze, Delhi-NCR saw bluer skies on Monday. The increased wind speed of 20-25 kmph helped disperse the suspended pollutants and bring down PM2.5 and PM10 levels to just around double their safe limits by the evening. While Delhi’s Air Quality Index had touched 494 (severe) on Sunday, the 24-hour average at 4 pm on Monday was recorded at 407 (severe), with this further falling to below 400 by the evening. The fewer cars on the roads due to the odd-even road-rationing measure helped reduce congestions and brought down vehicular emissions.

Nearly 15 lakh cars went off the roads and enforcement agencies reported high compliance across the city as Delhi began its third edition of the odd-even road rationing scheme on Monday as a measure to improve air quality.

The SC-mandated anti-pollution authority EPCA on Monday said dirty fuel-based industries in Delhi and its suburbs will remain shut till the morning of November 8. The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority also extended the ban on hot-mix plants and stone-crushers in Delhi-NCR till November 8.

Thick fog during winters has been forcing airlines to cancel and delay flights in Delhi for years, but alarmingly high level of air pollution has emerged as a new challenge for air-carriers and the airport operator.

There was a visible improvement in the national capital's air quality on Monday afternoon as winds gusting up to 20 kilometres per hour dispersed some of the noxious haze that lingered over Delhi for around a week, even as the city's pollution level still remained in the 'severe' category.

The National Green Tribunal on Monday took cognisance of deteriorating air quality in Delhi-NCR and asked officials from the Delhi government, Central Pollution Control Board, Delhi Pollution Control Committee and Ministry of Environment and Forests to appear before it tomorrow.

The AAP on Monday said it's Punjab and Haryana's responsibility to help their farmers in acquiring technology to avoid burning stubble, hours after Union environment minister Prakash Javadekar jibed the Delhi government that it was more interested in promoting itself than improving the air quality.

With the national capital facing severe air pollution, the Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Delhi government about the "logic" behind the odd-even scheme and ordered it produce data to prove that the road rationing plan reduces pollution.

Speaking to IANS, chairman of the Scientific Committee of Delhi Medical Association, Dr DR Rai said the last few days have witnessed a steep hike in number of patients with ailments such as throat infection, eye irritation, headache and exhaustion.