Delhi tops global pollution rankings ahead of Diwali
Delhi tops global pollution rankings ahead of Diwali
IN · Published Nov 7, 2026
• New Delhi has been ranked as the world's most polluted major city by IQAir on Saturday morning, 6th November 2026, with a US air quality index (AQI) reading of
• This is double the AQI of Lahore, Pakistan, which stood at

Impact & Risks

The high pollution levels in Delhi pose significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory conditions. The combination of cold weather, vehicle emissions, construction dust, and crop-waste burning has led to hazardous air quality. The situation is expected to worsen on Sunday due to the widespread use of firecrackers during Diwali, which could further deteriorate air quality and increase health-related issues such as respiratory distress and eye irritation.

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