Delhi Becomes Most Polluted City as Air Quality Deteriorates

India’s capital, Delhi, has surpassed Lahore in Pakistan to become the world’s most polluted city on November 13, 2026. The air quality reached hazardous levels, with visibility dropping due to thick smog covering the city of 20 million people.

According to Swiss group IQAir, which tracks air quality globally, Delhi’s AQI (air quality index) was classified as “hazardous” at 334, making it the most polluted major city in the world. The AQI is considered good when readings are up to 50, posing little health risk. However, India’s Central Pollution Control Board recorded a higher AQI of 403, labeling it “severe.”

The difference in readings between Swiss and Indian measurements is due to varying AQI scales and methods used to assess air pollution levels.

Videos from news agency ANI showed cars and motorcycles struggling to be seen through the dense smog, which also hid streetlights on Delhi’s main roads.

Pollution in northern India and Pakistan typically worsens during winter months, as cold air traps emissions from vehicles, construction dust, and smoke from agricultural burning. This seasonal issue contributes significantly to the region’s poor air quality.