Delhi Air Quality Remains Very Poor With Severe Pollution in Several Localities

Delhi's overall air quality stayed in the "very poor" category on Tuesday morning, November 3, 2026, while certain areas experienced "severe" levels of pollution.

Local Impact

Specific parts of the city including Rohini, Punjabi Bagh, Alipur, Bawana, Jahangirpuri, Vivek Vihar, and Narela recorded "severe" air pollution. Beyond the capital, north Indian towns and cities such as Noida, Kaithal, and Hapur also experienced "very poor" air quality on Tuesday morning.

AQI Figures

The Central Pollution Control Board recorded Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index at 330 at 8 a.m. on Tuesday. This followed a reading of 324 at 4 p.m. on Monday, which had risen from 261 on the previous day. The Central government's Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi indicates that overall air quality will likely remain in the "very poor" category for two days. The CPCB notes that "severe" pollution impacts healthy people and seriously harms individuals with existing health conditions, while higher AQI numbers indicate worsening air quality.

Context

Air pollution in Delhi and the wider Indo-Gangetic Plains routinely worsens every winter due to weather patterns like lower wind speeds and dropping temperatures. Additional factors like stubble burning, festive firecrackers, vehicle emissions, and dust further aggravate the situation during October and November.