Social media users have taken X to express their frustration and concern over the deteriorating air quality in Delhi. Some have even joked that smoking in Bengaluru might be a healthier option than breathing the polluted air in Delhi.

The CPCB advised people to minimise travelling during the hours when AQI is in the ‘severe’ or ‘poor’ category.

Delhi is experiencing the worst of the pollution crisis, with an AQI of 978. According to experts, breathing in the city’s air at this level is equivalent to smoking 49 cigarettes per day. Since late October,

Delhi's air quality on Monday plummeted to alarming levels, with the city recording its highest average 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI) for the season at 493, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) bulletin.

As areas in Delhi NCR see an AQI of 500, here’s how the toxic pollution is impacting your body on a daily basis