Overview
- Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI hovered near 385 over the weekend and registered 359–360 on Monday morning, with at least six stations in the ‘severe’ band above 400 despite brief wind-driven relief.
- Cold nights near 9°C with high humidity and low ventilation are limiting dispersion, and forecasters expect conditions to keep air quality in the very poor to severe range in the coming days.
- Lahore recorded hazardous readings reported as high as 577 on IQAir with several local sites in the 300–400s, while Punjab authorities in Pakistan reported fresh cases, arrests and fines for crop burning, vehicle emissions and industrial violations.
- Investigations and citizen protests in Delhi highlighted gaps and suspiciously static readings in official monitoring, alongside allegations of water-sprinkling near sensors and station shutdowns that officials have been pressed to explain.
- Bengaluru logged unhealthy spikes this week—often 150–170 in eastern neighborhoods—while Lucknow’s Lalbagh station hit a season-worst 333, prompting health advisories to curb outdoor exposure.