With a thin layer of pollution covering several areas of the nation’s capital, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the “very poor” category on Tuesday.

At 8 AM on Tuesday, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that Delhi’s AQI was 384.

SAFAR India reports that the air quality in a number of locations in Delhi surpassed 400 on Tuesday morning, falling into the “severe” category.

The AQI figures for Mundka, Vivek Vihar, Ashok Vihar, New Moti Bagh, Anand Vihar, Rohini, and Dwarka Sector 8 were 416, 424, 418, and 457 at around 7:00 AM on Monday. The’severe’ air quality values recorded in each of these places presented serious health hazards.

At the same time, the AQI was reported at 364 in Pusa, 396 in RK Puram, 343 in ITO, 346 in Lodhi Road, and 390 in Narela.

AQIs are classified as “poor” between 200 and 300, “very poor” between 301 and 400, “severe” between 401 and 450, and “severe plus” at 450 and above.

On Monday, the Supreme Court questioned the Delhi administration about how the national capital’s prohibition on detonating firecrackers to reduce air pollution was broken during the Diwali festivities.

The Delhi administration was requested by a panel of Justices Abhay S. Oka and Augustine George Masih to submit an affidavit detailing the measures used to address pollution and enforce the city’s firecracker ban.

The court noted that there are several newspaper reports claiming that the firecracker ban was not enforced and said that it wanted the Delhi administration to promptly explain why the ban was hardly enforced.

Additionally, it instructed the Delhi government and the Delhi Police Commissioner to submit affidavits outlining the measures they plan to take to ensure that this does not occur the next year.

Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Archana Pathak Dave informed the bench during the hearing that there was complete non-compliance with the firecracker ban this year and that there is a report indicating a significant rise in air pollution on Diwali day, with the percentage of pollution rising from 10% to 27%.