Delhi becomes world's most polluted city as air quality drops
The national capital overtook Lahore in Pakistan on Friday as smog reduced visibility and air quality reached hazardous levels.
Delhi became the world's most polluted city on Friday, November 13, 2026, overtaking Lahore in Pakistan, according to reports by The Hindu, Deccan Herald and The Tribune. Smog blanketed the city of 20 million people, causing visibility to drop and obscuring street lights on main roads.
The Swiss group IQAir reported a hazardous Air Quality Index (AQI) of 334 in Delhi. This measurement is based on toxin concentrations. Meanwhile, India's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded a higher AQI of 403 and classified the air quality as "severe."
The difference between the Swiss and Indian figures is due to the different methodologies and scales used to calculate and classify pollution levels. An AQI reading of 50 or below is generally considered good with minimal health risks.
Social media videos showed cars and motorcycles struggling to emerge from the dense smog. In northern India and neighbouring Pakistan, pollution is a seasonal issue during winter as cold air traps smoke from agricultural burning, construction dust and vehicle emissions.
Experts noted that 227 PM2.5 observations were missing across 59 stations on the CPCB website during the peak of pollution on Deepavali. Mishra stated that the government will look into the missing data.