Thirty-two flights were diverted on Sunday morning (November 3rd) as pollution levels in the Indian capital crossed the 600 mark, according to local reports.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called the situation "unbearable" and said the people of Delhi were suffering through "no fault of theirs."

Pollution levels in Delhi's surrounding areas were high too, forcing the authorities in Noida, in Uttar Pradesh, to shut schools until Tuesday.

Privately owned vehicles will be subject to a rationing system in New Delhi meaning that odd and even-numbered registration plated cars will only be allowed in the city on alternate days.

The blanket of haze over Delhi-NCR for a few days has thickened further. As the air quality continues to dip, people face burning sensation in their eyes when exposed to the outside air besides breathing issues. Even Delhi government on Friday announced staggered office hours for its employees in the wake of deteriorating air quality which forced the Supreme Court appointed Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority to declare a public health emergency in Delhi-NCR. The staggered office timings will be applicable from November 4 to 15 when the odd-even scheme will be in force.

Air quality oscillated between the ‘severe’ 400 and 500 marks in several areas of the national capital region and breached the index maximum in at least two. The worst air quality in the region was recorded in Karol Bagh at 633, followed by Ghaziabad at 571 at 10 am. Overall, Delhi recorded an AQI of 435, as per the Ministry of Earth Science’s SAFAR air quality index.An AQI (air quality index) between 0-50 is considered 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor' and 401-500 'severe'. Above 500 falls in the 'severe-plus emergency' category. Schools in the national capital Delhi will be closed till Tuesday and all construction activities are on hold.

There is hope ahead next week with the weather office predicting scattered rainfall in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Delhi on November 7 and 8 under the influence of Cyclone Maha and a fresh western disturbance. This rainfall, however light, will be significant in terms of reducing the effect of stubble burning and will wash away pollutants. In a public health emergency scenario, people are advised to stay indoors and if possible, cut down on outdoor activity as much as possible.