Haze continues to cover Delhi, nearby areas as AQI returns to 'very poor'

The Environment Pollution Control Authority has asked the authorities to extend the ban on construction activities

A thick blanket of haze continued to engulf the national capital on Sunday, a day after the air quality jumped to the "severe category", experts warned that the air quality is likely to remain the same as the pollution level returned to "very poor" category.

Smoke from firecrackers on Diwali has added to city's woes, the overall AQI in Delhi was recorded at 382 which falls in the very poor category, according to the data by SAFAR.

The PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) and PM10 concentrations touched 226 and 339 respectively, both