Theair quality in Delhi remained in the severe category with the Air Quality Indexat 460.

TheDwarka Sector 8 air monitoring centre recorded an air quality index of 496 andNehru Nagar and JLN Stadium were at 492.

AnAQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301-500 'severe', while the AQIabove 500 falls in the severe plus category.

Thenoxious smog resulting from raging farm fires and unfavourable weather hadpushed pollution in Delhi-NCR towards the "emergency" zone, promptingauthorities to order closure of schools till November 15 – a second time in twoweeks.

TheEnvironment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) had alsoextended the restrictions on dirty fuel-based industries in Delhi-NCR, hot mixplants and stone crushers till the morning of November 15, as the MeTdepartment had said strong winds are expected from Friday, which will bringdown the air pollution levels to the very poor category.

Bothgovernment and private schools remained closed on Wednesday and Thursday.