New Delhi, Oct 27 (IANS): The pollution entered the "hazardous" zone during Diwali in the national capital on Sunday. The air quality index (AQI) was 763, the highest, at the National Malaria Institute in Dwarka (West Delhi); 407 at the ITI Jahangirpuri (North Delhi), 313 at Shrinivaspuri (South Delhi).

In Chanakyapuri, where the US embassy is located, the AQI was 189 and at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium, 168 at 8 p.m.

At no place, the AQI monitors showed less than 100. This data was compiled by AQI monitors till 9 p.m.

Earlier during the day, the AQI was 313 at 9 a.m, 337 at 1 p.m. On Saturday too, the air quality was in the very poor category.

Due to emission from firecrackers and stubble burning in adjoining areas of the NCR, the pollution situation is expected to worsen in the coming week. A thin layer of haze is already hanging over Delhi.

The PM 10 (tiny particulate matter of diameter 10 micron or less) matter reached the high of 515 mcg at Anand Vihar as per the Delhi government's air quality monitors.

In Wazirpur, the PM 2.5 matter crossed the 400-mark. Twenty-nine of the 37 air quality stations reported very poor AQI.

In 2018 Diwali, the AQI had crossed the 600-mark, 12 times the safe limit.

As per data, the AQI between 0 and 50 is considered safe, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor. At 301-400, its considered very poor and 401-500 falls in the severe category.

The above 500 is severe as well as the emergency category.

Mid-October to November is considered critical days for Delhi's air quality due to stubble burning in neighbouring states and emissions from firecrackers in Diwali.