Delhi’s Air Improves Slightly After Diwali but Remains ‘Very Poor’ at 307 in Early Reading

Pedestrians walk along Kartavya Path as haze obscures India Gate in New Delhi. The capital recorded an AQI of 307 at 7 am on Tuesday, 10 November 2026. (File photo)

Chandni Chowk recorded an AQI of 395 at 7 am, close to the ‘severe’ threshold, even as a later citywide reading moved into the ‘poor’ category.

Key Highlights

• Delhi’s citywide Air Quality Index stood at 307 at 7 am on Tuesday, 10 November 2026.
• Chandni Chowk recorded 395, while Safdarjung, Punjabi Bagh, Aya Nagar and R. K. Puram also remained in the ‘very poor’ category.
• A later citywide reading of 299 placed Delhi in the ‘poor’ category, just below the threshold for ‘very poor’ air.
• The Delhi government deployed water sprinklers to suppress dust, while the India Meteorological Department forecast moderate fog over the next five days.

New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality improved slightly early on Tuesday, 10 November 2026, with the citywide Air Quality Index (AQI) at 307 at 7 am, according to Central Pollution Control Board data reported by ANI. The reading remained in the ‘very poor’ category, a day after several monitoring stations crossed into the ‘severe’ range following Diwali.

A later citywide reading of 299 moved Delhi into the ‘poor’ category. The two figures reflect readings reported at different times. On the CPCB scale, ‘poor’ covers 201 to 300, ‘very poor’ runs from 301 to 400, and ‘severe’ begins at 401.

Chandni Chowk Close to the ‘Severe’ Threshold

The improvement was uneven across the capital. Chandni Chowk recorded an AQI of 395 at 7 am, six points below the ‘severe’ threshold. Safdarjung recorded 371, while Punjabi Bagh and Aya Nagar were nearly level at 355 and 354, respectively. R. K. Puram stood at 328. All five were in the ‘very poor’ category.

At the same time, Anand Vihar registered 290, Ashok Vihar 278 and Narela 272. The reading reported for India Gate–Kartavya Path was 258. The gap between Chandni Chowk and India Gate–Kartavya Path was 137 points, showing how much conditions varied across Delhi during the same morning.

Moderate Fog Forecast as Delhi Deploys Water Sprinklers

The India Meteorological Department recorded a morning temperature of 17°C and reported moderate fog in Delhi. It forecast moderate fog over the next five days. Fog affects visibility, while the AQI reflects measured pollutant concentrations. The weather forecast and the pollution readings therefore describe different aspects of conditions in the capital.

The Delhi government deployed water sprinklers to suppress dust. The CPCB says prolonged exposure to ‘very poor’ air can cause respiratory illness, with effects potentially more pronounced in people with lung or heart disease. Even in the ‘poor’ category, the board warns that prolonged exposure can cause breathing discomfort.