CNN Central News & Networks / ITDC India ePress / ITDC News /Agencies/ Bhopal: CNN Central News & Networks / ITDC India ePress / ITDC News / Agencies, Bhopal: Air pollution in Delhi has reached a severe level even before Diwali. On November 3, the capital’s Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 451 at 8 a.m. In some monitoring data, the level was recorded above 460. However, this was a reading for a specific time, while the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) daily city average was different. On November 4, Delhi’s official average AQI was recorded at 350, which falls in the very poor category.
The sharp rise in pollution has increased fears that conditions could worsen further during Diwali. Delhi’s air had improved somewhat after rain at the end of October, but pollution rose rapidly after that. Slow wind speed, a drop in temperature, emissions from vehicles and construction activity, and incidents of stubble burning in nearby states are among the main reasons.
Were conditions this bad last year as well? Last year, in 2025, Delhi’s air had also deteriorated before Diwali. On November 3, 2025, the city’s daily average AQI was recorded at 309, while on November 4 it was 291. After Diwali, on November 11, the AQI had reached 428. In 2026, some real-time monitoring data recorded readings above 450 on November 3. However, the daily averages of the two years and readings taken at specific times cannot be directly compared.
Increased health risk: When AQI is above 400, the air is considered to be in the severe category. In such pollution, even healthy people may face breathing difficulties, while children, the elderly and people suffering from asthma, lung or heart-related diseases face greater risk. Experts have advised people to avoid outdoor exercise, wear N95 masks when needed and reduce exposure to pollution.
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