Pollution level nears 'emergency' zone

New Delhi: With Delhi-NCR pollution levels hovering close to "emergency" as the noxious smog resulting from raging farm fires and unfavourable weather made it more severe for the third time in the last 15 days, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Wednesday that the odd-even scheme could be extended.

The Supreme Court-mandated anti-pollution authority EPCA ordered schools in Delhi-NCR to be closed for the next two days. Outdoor activities in Delhi schools remained suspended on Wednesday. The EPCA also advised people to avoid outdoor exposure and work from home wherever feasible.

The Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority also extended the ban on hot-mix plants and stone-crushers in Delhi-NCR till November 15.

At 11.30 am, Delhi's overall air quality index read 454. Jahangirpuri and Rohini were the most-polluted areas with an AQI of 483, followed by Mundka (479) and Bawana (479). Faridabad (436), Ghaziabad (468), Greater Noida (459), Gurgaon (450) and Noida (469) also choked on extremely polluted air. See P3