Delhi overtakes Lahore as world's most polluted city as air quality drops

Delhi has claimed the title of the world's most polluted city, surpassing Lahore in Pakistan, according to data released on Friday. The air quality in the Indian capital has plummeted to hazardous levels, with visibility severely affected by a thick smog that engulfs the city of 20 million inhabitants.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi, as measured by Swiss firm IQAir, is recorded at a perilous 334, marking it as the most polluted major city globally. This reading indicates an extremely high level of toxins in the air, far surpassing the "good" rating that falls within the 0-50 range.

India's official Central Pollution Control Board has reported an even more alarming AQI of 403, classifying the condition as "severe." The discrepancy between the two measurements stems from different AQI scales and methodologies employed by various institutions for assessing air pollution levels.

The smog in Delhi has been so severe that it has obscured street lights on the city's main roads, as captured in videos by the news agency ANI. Cars and motorcycles have emerged from the dense smog, creating a grim sight on the otherwise choked streets. This seasonal problem of pollution in northern India and neighboring Pakistan is exacerbated during the cold, heavy winter months when vehicle emissions, construction dust, and smoke from agricultural burning are trapped in the air.