In brief
Swiss tracker IQAir named Delhi the world’s most polluted major city on the morning of 7 November, with a US Air Quality Index of 581, prompting the Indian government to order schools online and urge work‑from‑home. Official Indian monitors echoed the poor readings, and local media noted the worst pre‑Diwali air in eight years. Nonetheless, Delhi saw its best air quality on Diwali day in eight years, with a 24‑hour average AQI of 218 at 4 p.m.
On Saturday morning, 7 November, Swiss air‑quality tracker IQAir named Delhi the world’s most polluted major city, measuring a US Air Quality Index of 581—more than double Lahore’s 285, according to Reuters.
India’s Central Pollution Control Board reported a very poor air quality index of 363 at 10 a.m., echoing the same trend.
In response, the government ordered all schools in and around Delhi to switch to online classes and urged people to work from home ahead of the Hindu festival of lights, which normally sees widespread use of firecrackers that can worsen air quality.
The day before Diwali was described as the worst pre‑Diwali air in eight years, local media said, citing official data.
The Gulf Times noted that Delhi typically ranks as the world’s most polluted city multiple times each winter, according to IQAir.
Post‑Diwali Improvement
Delhi recorded its best air quality on Diwali day in eight years, with a 24‑hour average Air Quality Index of 218 at 4 p.m., according to a post from the Air Quality Early Warning System on Facebook.
