Delhi overtakes Lahore as world's most polluted city as air quality drops
Air quality index (AQI) in Delhi was “hazardous” at 334, making it the most polluted major city, according to Swiss group IQAir, which measures air quality levels based on the concentration of toxins
Delhi, India's capital, surpassed Lahore, Pakistan to claim the title of the world's most polluted city on Friday (November 13, 2026), according to Swiss air quality monitoring group IQAir. The city's air quality index (AQI) reached a hazardous level of 334, surpassing Lahore's reading of 302. AQI readings up to 50 are considered safe, with higher levels indicating increasing health risks.
India's official Central Pollution Control Board reported an even higher AQI of 403, classifying the air quality as "severe." The discrepancy in readings is attributed to different measurement scales and methodologies used by IQAir and the Indian government. The smog in Delhi, which appeared to obscure street lights, is a recurring seasonal issue in northern India and neighboring Pakistan, as cold air traps vehicle emissions, construction dust, and smoke from agricultural burning.
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