Delhi gets title of world's most polluted city as air quality becomes 'hazardous' to health

Jerusalem Post/Environment & Climate ChangeThe Air Quality Index in Delhi is between 334 and 403, making it the most polluted global major city in the world. An air quality of below 50 is considered good.Follow us on GoogleTraffic moves on a smoggy morning as air pollution spikes in New Delhi, India, November 13, 2026.(photo credit: REUTERS/Bhawika Chhabra)NOVEMBER 13, 2026 16:20India's capital Delhi overtook Lahore in Pakistan to become the world's most polluted city on Friday, with air quality reaching hazardous levels and visibility dropping as smog blanketed the city of 20 million people.Air quality index (AQI) in Delhi was "hazardous" at 334, making it the most polluted global major city, according to Swiss group IQAir, which measures air quality levels based on the concentration of toxins.An AQI reading up to 50 is considered ​good with little or no health risk.India's official Central Pollution Control Board pegged the AQI higher, at 403, and rated it "severe."The Swiss and ​Indian readings vary due to the different AQI scales and methodologies used ​to calculate ⁠and classify air pollution levels.People stand on the banks of river Yamuna on a smoggy morning as air pollution spikes in New Delhi, India, November 13, 2026. (credit: REUTERS/Bhawika Chhabra)Heavy smog obscures streets in DelhiCars and motorcycles emerged from dense smog, which also appeared to obscure street lights on the city's main roads, videos from news agency ANI showed.Pollution is a seasonal problem in many parts of northern India and neighbouring Pakistan, as the cold, heavy air of winter traps vehicle emissions, construction dust and smoke from agricultural burning.The Environment and Climate Change portal is produced in cooperation with the Goldman Sonnenfeldt School of Sustainability and Climate Change at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev. The Jerusalem Post maintains all editorial decisions related to the content.Follow us on Google