Environment & Climate4 Nov 2026 · about 6 min

November pain: Air quality severe in parts of Delhi

The brief

The air quality index, or AQI, converts pollution levels into a single number. A reading of 350 is in the very poor range. It signals heavily polluted air and greater concern for people's health, especially during prolonged exposure. AQI readings above 400 are classified as severe. Delhi's citywide AQI was 350 at 4pm Tuesday. That placed the city in the very poor category, but several locations had already crossed into severe conditions. Jahangirpuri recorded 462, while Punjabi Bagh reached 449 and DTU reached 445. The distinction matters because severe readings indicate an even more intense pollution episode. Monitoring agencies expected more of Delhi to deteriorate to severe soon. IITM also forecast very poor or severe air quality during the following six days, showing that the problem was not limited to one afternoon.

What does an air quality index (AQI) of 350 mean, and how is that different from “severe” air quality?

Delhi's citywide AQI was 350 at 4pm Tuesday. That placed the city in the very poor category, but several locations had already crossed into severe conditions. Jahangirpuri recorded 462, while Punjabi Bagh reached 449 and DTU reached 445.

The distinction matters because severe readings indicate an even more intense pollution episode. Monitoring agencies expected more of Delhi to deteriorate to severe soon. IITM also forecast very poor or severe air quality during the following six days, showing that the problem was not limited to one afternoon.

How widespread is the pollution, and how high did AQI readings become in the worst-hit parts of Delhi?

Delhi's pollution was spread across much of the city, not concentrated in one neighbourhood. The citywide AQI reached 350 at 4pm Tuesday, placing overall conditions in the very poor category. Monitoring agencies said the rest of the city could soon deteriorate to severe levels.

At least eight areas had already slipped into severe air quality. Jahangirpuri was the worst-hit, with an AQI of 462. Other very high readings included Punjabi Bagh at 449, DTU at 445, Alipur at 430, Vivek Vihar at 425, Mundka at 422, Bawana at 421, and North Campus at 405.

Safdarjung, the base station, recorded very poor air quality. The range between 350 citywide and 462 in Jahangirpuri shows how sharply conditions varied across Delhi. The agencies' warning suggests the pollution could become both more widespread and more intense.

Why did Delhi’s air quality worsen even after restrictions under GRAP-II were introduced?

GRAP-II restrictions were introduced Monday to curb worsening pollution, but restrictions cannot immediately clear pollutants already concentrated over a city. Their effect also depends on weather. Experts said conditions were unfavourable for dispersal, so pollution continued building despite the measures.

Delhi's temperatures were below normal for the daytime, with Safdarjung recording a maximum of 29.1 degrees Celsius. The minimum was 16.4 degrees Celsius. IITM linked the continuing deterioration to weather that prevented pollutants from spreading away effectively, while stubble-burning emissions were also increasing.

The result was a citywide AQI of 350 Tuesday, compared with worsening conditions since Monday. At least eight areas reached severe levels. Forecasts indicated that air quality could remain very poor or severe over the next six days, meaning restrictions were operating during an especially difficult weather period.

How much of Delhi’s pollution is currently linked to stubble burning, and how does that compare with vehicle emissions?

Stubble burning is becoming a larger part of Delhi's pollution episode. IITM's decision support system estimated that emissions from crop-residue burning in neighbouring states contributed 8.5% on Monday. Its models projected the share would rise to 15.5% Tuesday.

That projected Tuesday contribution was nearly equal to vehicular pollution. Vehicles normally dominate Delhi's emission inventory, so the comparison shows how quickly stubble burning had become an important contributor. The article does not say that stubble burning was the largest source; it describes vehicles as the dominant source.

IITM expected the stubble-burning share to rise further, reaching 20% by November 4 and 22% by November 5. This could add pressure to already poor air, especially while weather conditions are preventing pollutants from dispersing. The agency expected very poor or severe air for the next six days.

What health consequences can people face when AQI reaches the very poor or severe categories?

Very poor and severe air contain pollution levels that can affect health, especially with prolonged exposure. Common consequences include irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and airways, coughing, breathlessness, and reduced comfort during outdoor activity. People with asthma or heart and lung disease may be more affected. These health effects are established air-pollution guidance, not details listed in the article.

The article records a citywide AQI of 350 and severe readings in at least eight areas. Jahangirpuri reached 462, while Punjabi Bagh reached 449. Such readings show that many residents could be exposed to highly polluted air, not merely a brief localised spike.

The immediate concern is exposure while pollution remains trapped. Monitoring agencies expected more of Delhi to become severe, and IITM forecast very poor or severe air over the next six days. That outlook means health risks could persist unless pollution disperses or emissions fall.

What other sources besides stubble burning contribute to Delhi’s polluted air, and which source normally dominates?

Delhi's polluted air comes from more than one identified source. The article specifically mentions stubble-burning emissions from neighbouring states and vehicular pollution within the city's emission inventory. It says vehicle pollution normally dominates, while stubble burning's share was increasing.

The comparison is clear in IITM's estimates. Stubble burning accounted for 8.5% on Monday and was expected to reach 15.5% Tuesday. That projected share would almost equal vehicular pollution. The article therefore presents vehicles as the usual leading source, with stubble burning temporarily becoming nearly as important.

The source text does not provide a complete list of every contributor or precise vehicle percentage. It does say the combined pollution worsened because weather conditions were unfavourable for dispersal. IITM expected stubble burning to rise to 20% by November 4 and 22% by November 5, adding to the pressure.

Why do cool, still weather conditions prevent pollutants from dispersing and cause them to build up over a city?

Pollutants disperse when air movement and atmospheric mixing carry them away from their emission sources. Cool, stable air can limit that mixing, while weak winds provide little horizontal movement. Pollution then remains concentrated near the surface instead of spreading and diluting. This is why weather can worsen air quality even when emissions have not suddenly doubled.

In Delhi, experts said weather was unfavourable for pollutant dispersal. Temperatures were below normal: Safdarjung recorded a maximum of 29.1 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 16.4 degrees Celsius. Under these conditions, pollutants from vehicles and other sources can build up over the city.

The effect was visible in Tuesday's AQI of 350 and severe readings in at least eight areas. IITM expected very poor or severe air during the next six days. Unless dispersal improves or emissions decline, the trapped pollution can remain high and spread across more neighbourhoods.

This brief was written by AI from the original reporting and checked by other models. Names, figures and quotes come from the source; read it for full context.