Delhi records ‘very poor’ air quality on Diwali with 376 AQI

Municipal authorities deploy fog on the roads. File | Photo credit: ANI

Air quality in Delhi was in the ‘very poor’ category on Sunday (November 8, 2026) but was expected to deteriorate after the evening Diwali celebrations.

The average air quality index (AQI) for the day settled at 376 in the “very poor” category as a thick layer of smog enveloped the city and reduced visibility.

Air quality is forecast to “deteriorate” on Monday (November 9, 2026) following Diwali celebrations combined with vehicular emissions as well as the peak stubble burning season.

Of the 59 monitoring stations that recorded data on Sunday (November 8, 2026), 12 were in the ‘severe’ category and 22 were in the ‘very poor’ category. The worst AQI was recorded in Jahangirpuri with 463.

The city’s average AQI rose from 369 on Saturday to 376 on Sunday, remaining not far from the “strict” threshold of 400. Several monitoring stations have already crossed that mark, indicating worsening air quality across the capital.

According to the Air Quality Early Warning System (EWS) for Delhi, the air quality is likely to remain in the ‘severe’ category for several days from November 9.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI between 0 and 50 is classified as “good”, 51 and 100 as “satisfactory”, 101 and 200 as “moderate”, 201 and 300 as “poor”, 301 and 400 as “poor”, 301 and 400 as “01” and 400 as “0”. ‘heavy’.

Weather and air quality experts attribute the expected deterioration to adverse weather conditions, the onset of Deepavali celebrations and vehicular emissions along with the peak stubble burning season in neighboring states.

The situation is further aggravated by unfavorable meteorological conditions. According to the EWS, a ventilation index of less than 6,000 square meters per second together with an average wind speed of less than 10 kilometers per hour is unfavorable for the effective dispersion of pollutants.

PM2.5 was the predominant pollutant in the state capital on Sunday, with emissions from firecrackers adding to particulate matter levels.

According to the Decision Support System (DSS) for Delhi, the transport sector is the largest contributor to the city’s pollution on Sundays, accounting for 19 percent.

Stubble burning is expected to contribute 3.5%, with forecasts suggesting the contribution could remain around 2.99% on Monday. (November 9, 2026)

Published – 8 Nov 2026 10:20 AM IST