{
  "id": 19761356,
  "title": "Delhi overtakes Lahore as world's most polluted city as air quality drops",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/delhi-overtakes-lahore-as-worlds-most-polluted-city-as-air-quality",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-13T05:22:14.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Hindu",
    "slug": "the-hindu",
    "url": "https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/delhi-overtakes-lahore-as-worlds-most-polluted-city-as-air-quality-drops/article71696606.ece"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "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.",
  "summary": "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",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Delhi’s air quality worsens; crackers still account for 7% of pollution load",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/delhis-air-quality-worsens-crackers-still-account-for-7-of-pollution",
        "published": "2026-11-13T00:00:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Hindustan Times",
        "title": "Delhi’s air quality enters ‘severe’ category, AQI breaches 400",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/13/delhis-air-quality-enters-severe-category-aqi-breaches-400",
        "published": "2026-11-13T02:41:24.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}