New Delhi: Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal has been caught in the eye of the storm having left for Dubai for a 'family trip' amid hullaballoo about ‘severe’ pollution in the capital.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader received flak on social media for this, with people complaining that Kejriwal "ran away" to Dubai even as the common people of Delhi struggled to breathe.  

With pressure mounting on Kejriwal to find a solution to Delhi’s pollution, the AAP remained tight-lipped about the chief minister’s sudden departure.

After a slight improvement on Saturday morning, Delhi's air quality turned 'severe' again by the evening due to unfavourable weather conditions and a significant increase in pollution due to stubble burning, the authorities said.

The pollution level had dipped marginally this morning with air quality index of 394 but by evening the pollution again dropped from 'very poor' category to 'severe' level and an AQI of 403 was recorded.

On Saturday, the PM2.5 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometres) level was recorded at 261 while the PM10 (particles in the air with a diameter of less than 10 micrometres) was recorded at 416 in Delhi, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

Twenty areas in Delhi recorded 'severe' air quality while 15 areas recorded 'very poor' air quality, according to the CPCB.

Ghaziabad, Faridabad and Greater Noida recorded 'severe' air quality as well, while Noida and Gurgaon recorded 'very poor' air quality, according to the green body.

The air quality in Delhi has been 'severe' for the past two days with the highest pollution level of the year recorded a day after Diwali on Thursday with an AQI of 642.

Meanwhile, the Environment Pollution Control Authority (EPCA) has asked the Delhi government to suspend construction activities, industries using coal and biomass and entry of trucks till November 12 due to the poor air quality in the national capital.

With inputs from PTI