Delhi air pollution worsens as AQI hits 403 'severe', becoming the world's most polluted major city

India's capital Delhi saw air pollution worsen sharply on Friday (November 13) morning, with the overall air quality index (AQI) rising to 403 and entering the 'severe' category for the first time since January 19; data from Swiss air quality monitor IQAir shows Delhi has overtaken Lahore in Pakistan to become the world's most polluted major city.

More than half of 59 monitoring stations in the severe range

According to India's Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's overall AQI reached 403 at 7:30 a.m., up 82 points in 24 hours. Of 59 monitoring stations, 32 recorded severe air quality, with IIT Delhi recording the city's highest reading of 488, followed by Chandni Chowk at 480 and Delhi University's North Campus at 479. IQAir, using its own scale, recorded an AQI of 334, rated 'hazardous'. The wider National Capital Region was also affected, with Noida at 365, Greater Noida at 356 and Gurugram at 354.

More than 4,000 farm fires recorded

Satellite monitoring by NASA detected 4,107 farm fires across Punjab and Haryana between October 1 and November 12. Pollution has kept worsening since Diwali on November 8; this week's AQI rose from 319, rated 'very poor', on November 12 to 'severe'. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on November 6, which applies to severe air quality with AQI between 401 and 450.

Younger classes switch to hybrid mode; no blanket closure

The Delhi Directorate of Education has directed government and private schools to conduct classes up to Class 5 in hybrid mode; no blanket order to close all schools has been issued. Health authorities advise schoolchildren to reduce outdoor exposure, avoid strenuous physical activity, and take extra care of younger children and those with existing respiratory conditions.

(Sources: Reuters; Central Pollution Control Board; IQAir; Jagran Josh.)