Delhi is hurtling towards Deepavali wrapped in a blanket of toxic air. The science behind its worsening morning haze reveals why the problem is so persistent. Delhi woke up to another morning of toxic air on November 5, 2026, with pollution levels soaring to an alarming AQI of 510.
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
The air quality of the national capital continued to be in the “very poor” category for the fourth consecutive day on Thursday (November 5, 2026), while many parts of the city reeled under “severe” air pollution, according to official data. The overall air quality is expected to deteriorate to the “severe” category during Deepavali.
“Severe” level air pollution affects healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases, as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
On Thursday (November 5, 2026), many parts of the city, including Alipur, Bawana, ITO, Dwarka, and Jahangirpuri, witnessed “severe” level air pollution.
“The air quality is likely to be in the severe category from 06.11.2026 to 08.11.2026. The outlook for the subsequent 6 Days: The air quality is likely to be in the severe to very poor category,” as per the Central government’s ‘Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi’.
The contribution of stubble burning in neighbouring states to PM2.5 (a chief pollutant) in Delhi on Thursday is expected to be 15.6%, slightly down from 16.28% on Wednesday, according to the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences data. This is predicted to rise to 19.2% on Friday (November 6, 2026).
The political blame game between the BJP and the AAP over the air pollution continued on Thursday (November 5, 2026).
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that Delhi’s AQI (Air Quality Index) stood at 117 on October 31 but climbed to 377 by November 4. “During the same period, Punjab witnessed a significant surge in farm-fire incidents, with 584 fires recorded on November 3 alone. He said the growing contribution of stubble burning to Delhi’s pollution made Punjab’s failure to control farm fires a matter of serious concern,” Mr. Sirsa said.
The Minister said that while the Delhi government is undertaking continuous monitoring, enforcement and on-ground interventions, the Punjab government must also take responsibility for controlling pollution at its source.
Continuing to attack the BJP government over alleged manipulation of AQI data by spraying water at AQI monitoring stations, AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj said, “The AQI data is completely fabricated. Water is being sprayed on monitoring sensors to fake the readings. The real air is thick with invisible, toxic PM2.5 particles.”
He alleged that “fudging” AQI data is not just corruption, but is life-threatening. “When you lie about pollution, you trick parents into a false sense of security and kill our children,” Mr. Bharadwaj added.
BJP-AAP spar
The 24-hour average overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi stood at 369 (very poor) on Thursday at 4 p.m. on Thursday, slightly down from 377 (very poor) a day earlier, as per the Central Pollution Control Board’s daily bulletin, which is treated as the day’s AQI. A higher AQI means worsening of air quality.
Every winter, air pollution spikes in Delhi-NCR and many parts of the larger Indo-Gangetic Plains, mainly due to meteorological factors such as lower wind speeds and a drop in temperature. Also, pollution from stubble burning during October and November and the bursting of firecrackers during the festive season add to existing pollution from vehicles and dust, worsening the air quality.
Published – November 06, 2026 04:34 am IST
