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South Asia’s Winter Smog Deepens, Delhi Eases to ‘Very Poor’ as Lahore Tops Global Index

Brief relief from faster winds in Delhi is expected to fade as farm‑fire contributions rise.

Overview

  • Delhi’s 24‑hour AQI averaged 387 on November 14 after three severe days, CPCB data show, though several stations remained in the severe zone including Wazirpur at 433 and Bawana at 429.
  • CAQM’s GRAP Stage III restrictions remain in force across NCR, and the Supreme Court has asked Punjab and Haryana to file reports on stubble‑burning controls.
  • IITM/DSS estimated farm fires at 8.5% of Delhi’s PM2.5 on Friday and projects about 16% on Saturday, with transport near 20%; satellites tracked new fires in Punjab, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
  • Forecasts indicate very poor air through the weekend and very poor to severe next week despite a brief dispersion boost from 14–15 km/h winds, with IMD noting clear skies, shallow fog and below‑normal temperatures.
  • Mumbai recorded worsening air with hotspots breaching 300–400 AQI (BKC ~307–341, Wadala up to 396–438, Colaba ~302–324) while Lahore logged hazardous readings above 500, leading global pollution rankings and triggering health advisories.