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Delhi's Air Quality Plummets to AQI 451, Worst in NCR
✍️ Amar Ujala · Delhi
🗓 11 Nov 2026, 08:52 AM
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The capital recorded an AQI of 451 this morning, marking a sharp deterioration despite earlier modest improvements.
Delhi's air quality index surged to 451 in the early hours, placing the city in the "severe" pollution bracket and prompting health alerts across the National Capital Region. The reading, taken by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, reflects a dramatic rise from the modest improvements recorded earlier in the week.
While recent monitoring had shown a slight dip in particulate matter levels, today's measurements indicate that pollutants have rebounded sharply, overwhelming the city's already strained air‑purification measures. The spike has been attributed to a combination of stagnant weather conditions and increased vehicular emissions.
Health officials have warned residents, especially those with respiratory ailments, to limit outdoor activities and to use masks certified for high‑pollution environments. Similar deteriorating conditions were reported in adjoining parts of the NCR, underscoring the regional scale of the crisis.
While recent monitoring had shown a slight dip in particulate matter levels, today's measurements indicate that pollutants have rebounded sharply, overwhelming the city's already strained air‑purification measures. The spike has been attributed to a combination of stagnant weather conditions and increased vehicular emissions.
Health officials have warned residents, especially those with respiratory ailments, to limit outdoor activities and to use masks certified for high‑pollution environments. Similar deteriorating conditions were reported in adjoining parts of the NCR, underscoring the regional scale of the crisis.