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A thick blanket of smog engulfed Delhi on 05 November 2018, with the national capital bearing the brunt of “severe” pollution even as it braces for Diwali. The AQI (Air Quality Index) stood at 426, according to the SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research). This falls in the “severe” category and can potentially affect even the healthy people, besides seriously impacting those with existing illnesses.The increase in moisture following the withdrawal of the western disturbances aggravated the situation, as it enhanced the pollution holding capacity of the air. Satellite pictures from the NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) of the US showed India’s north-western states under a thick haze.