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

NCR turns toxic, Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai on Tuesday alleged that the Centre was not acting on their repeated request to allow artificial rain in the national capital.At a press conference,

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

The AQI in Delhi-NCR is in the ‘severe plus’ category. AQI between 0-50 is considered “good”, 51-100 is “satisfactory”, 101-200 is “moderate”, 201-300 is “poor”, 301-400 is “very poor”, 401-500 is “severe” and above 500 is a “severe plus”.

Delhi's hazardous air quality was a key focus at COP29, as experts warned about the health risks of air pollution and called for immediate global action.

Delhi recorded air pollution more than 17 times above an acceptable level as worsening smog triggered curbs on trucking and shuttered construction sites and schools.

Delhi environment minister Gopal Rai has called for an emergency meeting with his federal counterpart to address the capital's severe pollution levels. Rai is demanding immediate approval for cloud seeding and criticized the central government for inaction,

The Delhi Minister's letter to the Centre comes as the national capital is battling with deteriorating air pollution levels. On Tuesday, the Air Quality Index stood at 494 under the 'severe plus' category.

Delhi Minister Gopal Rai asked the central government to make it rain artificially to clean the city's bad air. He said the environment minister is not acting on Delhi's requests for an emergency pollution meeting.