Delhi’s Air Quality Slips To ‘Very Poor’ With AQI At 348, Stubble Burning Could Make It Worse

Winter is approaching, and during this season, Delhi’s AQI usually worsens. The air quality in the capital has already started declining, making it difficult for residents to breathe. Unfortunately, there are no signs of improvement, as pollution levels are expected to rise further due to stubble burning in neighbouring states over the next few days. Scroll down to know more!

Delhi’s AQI Expected To Worsen Further In Coming Days

As per Press Trust of India (PTI), Delhi‘s AQI has reached 348. On November 3, 2026, it was in the ‘very poor’ category. As per India Today, the AQI has been rising since November 1. It stood at 261 on Monday, increased to 324 on Tuesday and reached 348 on Wednesday.

What Is The Reason Behind Delhi’s Poor AQI?

According to the forecast by the Decision Support System under the Ministry of Earth Sciences, stubble burning is adding to Delhi’s PM2.5 pollution. On November 2, farm fires contributed 8.583% to the capital’s PM2.5 levels. This share increased to 15.301% on November 3. It’s not going down soon! It is expected to rise further to 20.057% on November 4 and 22.207% on November 5.

Also Read: A Rooftop, Mughlai Kebabs And Jama Masjid In The Frame! Old Delhi Dining Gets A Royal Twist

Farm Fires Continue Across Neighbouring States 

The air quality concern in Delhi came amid the farm-fire incidents in neighbouring states. According to India Today report, Punjab recorded the highest number with 98 incidents, followed by Rajasthan with 67 and Madhya Pradesh with 48. Uttar Pradesh reported four cases, while Haryana recorded two 

According to the Consortium for Research on Agroecosystem Monitoring and Modelling from Space Lab at the ICAR-Indian Agricultural Research Institute, no farm fires were detected in Delhi or Uttarakhand on November 2. However, between September 15 and November 2, Delhi recorded two farm-fire incidents, while Uttarakhand recorded 176.

We hope the air quality in Delhi improves soon! 

Also Read: Man Tries To Open Emergency Door On IndiGo Delhi-Pune Flight; Booked By Police

Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ ferrantraite

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