As Delhi prepares to light up for Diwali, its skies are getting darker under a thickening blanket of pollution. Delhi's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 368 on Thursday, placing the city in the 'very poor' category and edging closer to the severe threshold of 400, with at least 18 monitoring stations across the capital recording 'severe' pollution levels.

Jahangirpuri was among the worst-hit areas, recording an AQI of 459, followed by Nauroji Nagar Ring Road at 416 and the area around AIIMS at 402, all in the 'severe' category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). India Gate, too, came close to the severe mark with an AQI of 399, while Anand Vihar recorded a relatively lower AQI of 296, placing it in the 'poor' category.- Ends