Heavy, medium goods vehicles not allowed to enter Delhi from 11 pm tonight

In the wake of deteriorating air quality in the national capital, the Delhi Police on Thursday put a ban on entry of heavy and medium goods vehicles into the city from 11 pm tonight. The ban will remain in effect till November 11.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Alok Kumar said, "Heavy and medium goods vehicles will not be allowed to enter Delhi from 11 pm tonight; ban to continue till 11 pm on November 11. Vehicles carrying essential goods are exempted."

The prohibition has come at a time when the air quality in the city reached the 'hazardous' level due to Diwali, as Delhiites woke up to a thick blanket of smog leading to low visibility.

The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi at 8.30 am was recorded at 458, which falls under the 'severe' category, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

The Supreme Court had issued an order stating that only green crackers would be sold in New Delhi and the national capital region (NCR). It had also said that pollution-causing firecrackers, which have already been manufactured, will not be allowed to be sold in the NCR.

Despite the Supreme Court's order on the usage of green crackers, reports suggest that regular firecrackers were burnt, causing the air quality to plunge in most parts of Delhi-NCR.