Gurugram, Nov. 3 -- With Diwali less than a week away, Gurugram's air quality deteriorated further on Monday, with the air quality index (AQI) reaching 246 at 4pm, its highest reading this pollution season, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) Sameer app. The city remained in the 'poor' air quality category.

Meanwhile, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR as Delhi's air quality deteriorated to the 'very poor' category and pollution levels worsened across the region.

Under Stage 2, authorities are required to intensify pollution-control measures, including increasing parking charges to discourage private vehicle use, augmenting pub...