Delhi air quality remains very poor as several areas hit severe levels
Official data shows many parts of the capital recorded severe pollution on Thursday while the overall AQI remained in the very poor category.
Air quality in Delhi remained in the very poor category for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday, November 5, 2026, with several areas recording severe pollution levels, according to The Hindu. Areas including Alipur, Bawana, ITO, Dwarka, and Jahangirpuri witnessed severe air pollution on Thursday.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that the 24-hour average overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi stood at 369 at 4 p.m. on Thursday. This was a slight decrease from the 377 recorded a day earlier. The CPCB noted that severe level pollution affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases.
According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the air quality is likely to be in the severe category from November 6 to November 8, 2026. The outlook for the subsequent six days suggests the air quality will likely remain in the severe to very poor category.
Data from the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences indicated that the contribution of stubble burning in neighbouring states to PM2.5 in Delhi was expected to be 15.6 per cent on Thursday. This figure is predicted to rise to 19.2 per cent on Friday, November 6, 2026.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated that Delhi's AQI climbed from 117 on October 31 to 377 by November 4. He said the growing contribution of stubble burning made the Punjab government's failure to control farm fires a matter of serious concern. AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that AQI data is being fabricated by spraying water on monitoring sensors to fake readings.
