Delhi reels under ‘severe’ level air pollution

Vehicles ply along a flyover shrouded in a thick layer of smog and haze as air quality deteriorates, in New Delhi. File | Photo Credit: ANI The overall air quality of Delhi worsened to “severe” category on Friday (November 13, 2026) morning, according to official data.Ballabgarh in Haryana also witnessed “severe” air pollution, while many other cities and towns in north India, including Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad witnessed “very poor” air quality, on Friday morning.The 24-hour average overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was 403 (severe) at 9 a.m. on Friday, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.The overall air quality of Delhi is expected to be in the “severe’” category till Friday night, as per the Central government’s ‘Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi’.The 24-hour average overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi stood at 350 (very poor) at 4 p.m. on Thursday, up from 313 (very poor) a day earlier, the Central Pollution Control Board’s daily bulletin, which is treated as the day’s AQI. A higher AQI means worsening of air quality.Every winter, air pollution spikes in Delhi-NCR and many parts of the larger Indo-Gangetic Plains, mainly due to meteorological factors such as lower wind speeds and a drop in temperature. Also, pollution from stubble burning during October and November and bursting of firecrackers during the festive season add to existing pollution from vehicles and dust, worsening the air quality.“Severe” level air pollution affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases, as per the CPCB. Published - November 13, 2026 09:26 am IST