Illustration: Delhi's skyline under smog.
Delhi woke to another morning of thick grey smog on Thursday, 5 November 2026, as the capital's air quality stayed in the hazardous range for a second day running. The city's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 482 at 8:01 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, putting the air firmly in the severe category and sharpening health worries for millions of residents.
A second morning above 400
Seven monitoring stations across the capital recorded readings above 400, the threshold for severe air. Punjabi Bagh logged the highest at 446, followed by Narela at 434, Rohini at 431, RK Puram at 416, Bawana at 412, North Campus at 408 and Patparganj at 405. The reading came a day after Delhi's AQI touched 605 at 7:41 am on Wednesday, 4 November, its highest point of the week so far, while the 24-hour average for the day stood at 379. Under India's official scale, readings from 301 to 400 count as very poor and anything above 400 is severe.
What is driving the smog
Delhi's air turns foul almost every winter, and the same pattern is at work again. Cooler temperatures and weak winds are trapping pollutants close to the ground, while vehicle exhaust remains the largest single contributor, according to the government's Decision Support System. Crop-residue burning in neighbouring states has added to the haze, although official figures say stubble-burning incidents have fallen compared with previous years. The sharp turn is striking because October had been unusually clean: Delhi recorded its lowest average October AQI in eight years before the winter smog set in.
Curbs in force as Diwali approaches
Authorities invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on 2 November, bringing tighter controls on dust, construction and vehicle emissions. Police have begun vehicle checks at the Delhi-Gurgaon border, and Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav said on Tuesday that the Commission for Air Quality Management is keeping a close watch on wind direction, wind speed and the movement of air. With Diwali days away, India's Supreme Court has allowed certified green firecrackers in Delhi and neighbouring areas only on 7 and 8 November, between 6 and 7 in the morning and 8 and 10 at night, and has banned fireworks within 300 metres of hospitals, care homes, schools and other silence zones. The Air Quality Early Warning System expects no significant improvement until at least Friday, 6 November, with the AQI likely to stay in the very poor to severe range.
Why the numbers matter
PM2.5, the fine particulate matter behind most of the AQI reading, is about 30 times smaller than the width of a human hair and can penetrate deep into the lungs. Breathing such air over a prolonged period can cause respiratory problems and worsen existing illnesses, with children and older people particularly at risk. Health officials advise residents to limit outdoor activity while the severe spell lasts, and to wear masks outdoors where possible.
A familiar winter crisis
Delhi is among the world's most polluted capitals each winter, and the episode underlines how the seasonal crisis returns even after a comparatively clean autumn. Until winds pick up or rain clears the air, the capital faces more days of grey skies and hazardous readings.
Source: WION reported Delhi's AQI at 482 on Thursday morning, with seven stations in the severe category.
More world news on NewsPlusSite: Spain Transport Minister Oscar Puente Resigns After Deadly Urda Train Crash
Comments