A toxic haze enveloped India's national capital on Wednesday morning as temperatures dropped and pollution surged, reducing visibility in some parts and prompting a warning from airport authorities that flights may be affected.

Dense smog engulfed Delhi and its surrounding areas on Wednesday morning with visibility dropping and the air quality settling in the "very poor" category. According to data by the Central Pollution Control Board,

Delhi air pollution: The national capital’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ quality for the 15th consecutive day on Wednesday. Delhiites woke up to a thick veil of smog on Wednesday morning as the air quality index (AQI) remained at 355.

The alarming drop in air quality has triggered widespread concerns among residents, many of whom are now reporting significant health issues due to the toxic air.

New Delhi, followed by Muzaffarpur, Sonipat, Gazhiabad, Saharsa, and Chandigarh, remained in the top ten most polluted cities in India on Tuesday.

The weather department has predicted that these conditions are unlikely to improve soon, with the AQI predicted to remain in the “very poor” range for the next two days.

Delhi's air quality has been classified as 'very poor' for 15 consecutive days, with the primary pollutant being PM10. This harmful particulate matter originates from sources like vehicle emissions and industrial activities,

The CPCB data showed the average AQI in Delhi's Anand Vihar was 393 at 5am on Wednesday. According to Swiss group IQAir's live ratings, the AQI in Noida was 1133 (hazardous), with