Air quality in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) on Friday deteriorated further due to continued stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI) bulletin, Thursday was the most polluted day in October this year.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), the overall air quality in Delhi deteriorated to 425, which falls under the "severe" category.

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It is worth noting that all the pollution measuring stations in Delhi-NCR are recording AQI levels above 400, with the poorest air quality recorded at outer Delhi's Bawana (716).

Places like Anand Vihar (478), Alipur (473), Aya Nagar (430), Dwarka (447), Major Dhyanchand Stadium (445) and Patparganj (443) witnessed air quality deteriorate further, as per Central Pollution Control Board's latest air quality data.

Data shows that the contribution of stubble burning to the toxic haze and air pollution in Delhi-NCR was 35 percent on Wednesday, but was expected to reduce by 10 percent on Thursday. However, the level of haze shrouding the national capital and surrounding regions seems to have jumped today.

Air quality in the national capital saw a sharp dip after Diwali Celebrations has been deteriorating  as stubble burning continues in parts of Punjab and Haryana despite a ban.

 The city is expected to remain blanketed under the pungent haze for the fourth consecutive day as over  20 of the 37 AQI monitoring stations across Delhi recorded severe air quality levels.

Meanwhile, neighboring Ghaziabad emerged as the most polluted city in the country, with the levels of PM 2.5-tiny particulate matter less than 2.5 microns-reaching as high as over 480.

An AQI between 0-50 is considered good while 51-100 falls under satisfactory category; 101-200 is considered moderate. (AQI scale)

Trouble starts when the AQI is recorded between 201 and 300 (poor), 301 and 400 (very poor) and 401 and 500 (severe). Anything above 500 falls under the "severe-plus" emergency or hazardous category.

Data from the Ministry of Earth Sciences' air quality monitoring system, SAFAR, showed that the share of stubble burning is the key reason behind the toxic haze in New Delhi and surrounding areas.

Punjab recorded a whopping increase of 7,842 fires, up from 12,027 on Sunday to almost 20,000 on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Haryana recorded an increase of 476 fires-from 3,735 to 4,211-during the same period.

However, weather experts are of the view that increased wind speed due to a fresh western disturbance would help in dispersing pollutants faster from Saturday.

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