Delhi woke up to a dense layer of toxic smog on Friday morning, with the average Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 329 at 7 am, placing it in the "very poor" category, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

Despite slight improvements in recent weeks, large parts of the city remained shrouded in thick, hazardous haze. Areas such as Ghazipur and Anand Vihar reported severely reduced visibility, while several localities across Delhi continued to record "very poor" air quality, reported news agency ANI.