A layer of smog blanketed Delhi on Thursday morning, as the air quality index (AQI) was at 389 at 7.15 a.m., falling into the "very poor" category. However, some areas continued to have severe air pollution levels.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, in 12 areas of Delhi, the AQI level remained between 400 and 500. It was 408 in Alipur, 405 in Anand Vihar, 414 in Ashok Vihar, 418 in Bawana, 401 in Dwarka Sector 8, 435 in Jahangirpuri, 413 in Mundka, 411 in Nehru Nagar, 407 in Punjabi Bagh, 407 in Rohini, 412 in Shadipur, and Wazirpur remains at 436 level.

Whereas in 26 areas of the national capital, the AQI level remained above 300 and between 400. It was 369 in Aya Nagar, 339 in Chandni Chowk, 343 in Mathura Road, 368 in Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range, 360 in DTU, 370 in IGI Airport, 341 in Dilshad Garden, 365 in ITO, 354 in Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

The air quality in Jaipur on Thursday slipped into the 'very poor' category as the AQI level reached 344 in the Mansarovar area. The air remained in the 'poor' category in other areas of the city where the quality index was over 200.

Besides Jaipur, the air quality index (AQI) stayed 'poor' in other cities of Rajasthan like Jhalawar, Sikar, Sawai Madhopur and Sri Ganganagar.

On Thursday, Jhalawar had 245 AQI, Sikar had 279, Sawai Madhopur had 204, Tonk had 324 and Sri Ganganagar had 242. Kota in Shrinath Puram had an AQI level of 294, said Central Pollution Control Board officials.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI is considered "poor" between '200 and 300', "very poor" at '301 and 400', "severe" at '401-450," and 450 and above is "severe plus".

In a significant haul of drugs in Mizoram, the Assam Rifles and state police jointly seized 28.520 kg of Methamphetamine tablets, 52 grams of Heroin worth Rs 85.95 crore and a foreign Pistol in three separate operations on Wednesday in Champhai district, bordering Myanmar.

Assam Rifles sources said that two Myanmar nationals were apprehended with these drugs.

The sources said that acting on secret information, the Assam Rifles troops and Mizoram police in two separate operations seized the drugs from Zokhawthar, a border two along the India-Myanmar frontier.

The Manipur government on Wednesday extended the suspension of mobile internet and data services for three more days in seven trouble-torn districts, while with some improvement in the law and order situation, like the previous day, curfew was relaxed in four Imphal Valley districts for five hours.

Commissioner, Home, N. Ashok Kumar in his order said that in view of the prevailing law and order situation, the government has decided to extend the suspension of mobile internet and data services for three more days in seven trouble-torn districts with effect from 5.15 p.m. on Wednesday to 5.15 p.m. on Saturday. The seven districts, comprising both the valley and hills, are Imphal West, Imphal East, Bishnupur, Thoubal, Kakching, Kangpokpi, and Churachandpur.

After the widespread violence and attacks by mobs started in valley districts including Imphal East and Imphal West on November 16 following the recovery of six bodies of missing three children and three women in Jiribam district on November 15 and 16, Chief Secretary Vineet Joshi on November 16 ordered the suspension of mobile internet and data services in these seven districts for two days.

The Char Dham yatra created a record of sorts with an astounding turnout of more than 47 lakh devotees this year. Besides this, the Yatra is hogging the headlines for yet another reason – for earning Rs 8 lakh from the disposal of inorganic waste during the pilgrimage season.

The Badrinath Nagar Panchayat undertook an extensive cleaning drive to restore the cleanliness and sanctity of the shrine by cleaning its premises as well as the surroundings, ahead of its closure during the winter.

A dedicated team of 50 Paryavaran Mitra carried out the operation, collecting 1.5 tonnes of waste from prominent areas such as Brahm Kapal, Astha Path, Tapt Kund, Main Bazaar, and Mana village. The initiative reaffirmed the commitment of local authorities to preserving the sanctity and cleanliness of the revered Char Dham pilgrimage site.

Six landmines, planted along the Line of Control (LoC) in J&K’s Poonch district, exploded in a forest fire on Wednesday, officials said, adding the blaze, which originated from the other side could be a "deliberate attempt" to cripple the defence system to enable an infiltration bid by terrorists.

The six landmines were part of an anti-infiltration obstacle system, the officials said.

"The forest fire started from across the border in the afternoon and spread to this side of the LoC in the forward areas of Krishna Ghati sector of Mendhar sub-division. Six blasts were heard at regular intervals over the past few hours after the fire activated the landmines, but there was no report of any casualty. Efforts are on to control the flames, the cause of which is yet to be clearly ascertained," an official said.

"A deliberate attempt from across the border to harm the anti-infiltration obstacle system cannot be ruled out. Army is on high alert to foil any attempt of infiltration by terrorists," the official said.

A woman (22) ended her life by jumping into a well in the Shahdol district of Madhya Pradesh, an official said.

Police officials said that they recovered the body on Tuesday and initiated a probe.

The victim was pursuing her graduation from a government college in Jaisingh Nagar in the district.

A worker was killed and three others injured in a chemical reactor blast at a pharma company in Hyderabad on Wednesday.

The incident occurred at Aurore Pharmaceuticals Private Ltd at Jeedimetla industrial area in Medchal Malkajgiri district on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

The workers were cleaning the boiler when the explosion occurred, killing one worker on the spot. Three others sustained critical injuries and were shifted to a hospital.

The deceased was identified as Anil, 43, and the injured as Gopi, 23, Srinivas, 25, and Balram, 30, were injured.

Tension prevailed at the pharma unit as relatives of the deceased and injured employees staged a protest.

J&K's Srinagar city recorded a sub-zero temperature for the first time this season on Wednesday as the higher reaches continued to reel under freezing cold.

The Meteorological Department officials said Srinagar city recorded a sub-zero minimum temperature of minus 0.7 degrees Celsius.

The sub-zero temperature was accompanied by morning fog, making passage of pedestrians and vehicular movement difficult.

Water taps at many places in Srinagar city and the suburbs froze in the morning and people were seen lighting small fires around water taps to de-freeze them.

Gulmarg recorded minus 0.6 degrees Celsius and Pahalgam minus 3.7 degrees Celsius minimum temperature.

Heavy rain continued to lash southern Tamil Nadu, prompting the district collectors of Ramanathapuram, Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli, and Karaikal to declare a holiday for schools on Wednesday.

The decision applies to all government and private schools in these districts. In Ramanathapuram, the district collector has also announced a holiday for colleges due to the heavy rainfall.

The Virudhunagar district collector has authorised individual school heads to decide on closures as widespread rainfall has affected the area since morning.

The Regional Meteorological Centre (RMC) has also forecast heavy rainfall in northern coastal districts, including Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, and Kancheepuram, from November 22.

These districts are expected to experience above-normal rainfall from November 22 to 28, while the rest of the state is likely to receive normal to below-normal rainfall during this period.