New Delhi, November 5, 2026: Air pollution continued to worsen in the national capital region, with Delhi’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 377 at 4 pm on Wednesday, November 4. The reading placed the city in the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) “very poor” category.
At the same time, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued show-cause notices to the deputy commissioners and senior superintendents of police of five Punjab districts—Jalandhar, Faridkot, Bathinda, Barnala and Fazilka—over alleged failures to prevent and control paddy stubble burning.
Several NCR locations record severe readings
According to the Indian Express report, pollution readings at a number of Delhi monitoring stations crossed the 400 mark in the evening, entering the “severe” category. IIT Delhi and Jahangirpuri were among the locations reporting particularly high readings. Noida’s Sector 62 also recorded a severe-level reading, while Gajraula in Uttar Pradesh remained in the very poor category.
The CPCB classifies AQI from 301 to 400 as very poor and 401 to 500 as severe. Fine particulate matter, including PM2.5 and PM10, was among the pollutants contributing to the deterioration.
CAQM expands action over farm fires
The latest notices add five districts to the list of Punjab districts facing direct regulatory action in recent days. Earlier notices had been issued to authorities in Gurdaspur, Kapurthala, Amritsar and Tarn Taran.
Satellite data cited in the report recorded 467 active paddy-residue burning events across six northern and central states on November 4. Punjab accounted for 151 of those reported incidents, while Madhya Pradesh recorded 157.
What residents should know
Forecasts cited by the report indicated that Delhi’s air could deteriorate further, with the possibility of severe conditions around November 6 and 7. Residents, especially children, older adults and people with respiratory or heart conditions, should follow official health advisories and check local AQI readings before planning prolonged outdoor activity.
These readings can vary substantially between monitoring stations and change during the day. The 377 figure is the city’s 24-hour average for November 4, not a live reading for every neighbourhood on November 5.
