In brief
On Saturday night, November 7, 2026, Swiss air‑quality tracker IQAir named Delhi the world’s most polluted major city, with a US AQI of 581. The Indian government ordered schools to switch to online classes and urged people to work from home in response to the severe haze. Official Indian monitors listed Delhi’s air quality as very poor, with a 363 AQI reading at 10 a.m.
On Saturday morning, November 7, 2026, Swiss air‑quality tracker IQAir named Delhi the world’s most polluted major city, with a US Air Quality Index of 581, according to Reuters.
IQAir’s live ranking, based on concentrations of air pollutants, placed Delhi first among major cities at 10:35 a.m. (0505 GMT), double Lahore’s 285, as reported by the Reuters article.
India’s Central Pollution Control Board recorded Delhi’s air quality index at 363 at 10 a.m., placing it in the "very poor" category, Reuters also reported.
In response to the dire pollution forecast ahead of Diwali, the Indian government ordered schools in and around Delhi to offer online classes and encouraged the public to work from home, Reuters noted.
The Gulf Times, citing IQAir, added that Delhi is typically ranked the world’s most polluted city several times each winter, highlighting the recurring nature of the problem.
Both IQAir’s reading and India’s official index use different scales and methodologies, a point echoed in the Reuters report.
These measures come amid concerns that the widespread use of firecrackers on Diwali Sunday could further worsen air quality. The Indian government has historically sought to mitigate pollution spikes during the winter months when cold, heavy air traps vehicle emissions, construction dust and crop‑waste burning.
At 10:35 a.m. the Swiss tracker recorded Delhi’s AQI at 581, while Lahore lingered at 285, underscoring Delhi’s severe air-qualitative situation on the eve of the Hindu festival.
Reports indicate that Friday’s air quality was the worst pre‑Diwali air in eight years, according to local media. No official statement has confirmed the exact cause of the record smog.
Indian authorities remain focused on reducing particulate matter to safeguard public health as the festival approaches. The situation continues to evolve as real‑time monitoring updates the city’s air‑quality status throughout the holiday.
Overall, the combined data from IQAir and Indian regulators highlight Delhi’s dire pollution levels on the eve of Diwali, prompting government actions and raising concerns about public safety and health.
