Delhi's air quality index reached 322 on Friday, staying in the very poor category, as contributions from stubble burning are set to rise sharply over the weekend. Transport remains the primary local source of PM2.5 pollution. Forecasts indicate no improvement in the coming days amid cooler weather and winds carrying smoke from neighboring states.
Delhi recorded an average air quality index (AQI) of 322 on Friday, up from 311 the previous day, placing it in the 'very poor' category according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The city was the most polluted in the country, followed by Ghaziabad at 314 AQI.
The Decision Support System (DSS) for Air Quality Management, developed by the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) in Pune, identified transport as the main contributor to PM2.5 levels at 17.21%, with neighboring Jhajjar adding 6.98%. Stubble burning from surrounding areas contributed 8.68% to PM2.5 on Friday, down slightly from 9.48% on Thursday but up from 1.26% on Wednesday. This share is projected to surge to 30.91% on Saturday and 31.24% on Sunday.
A total of 568 farm fire incidents were recorded across India on Friday, led by Madhya Pradesh with 237, Uttar Pradesh with 164, and Punjab with 100, per data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute. From September 15 to November 7, 7,454 such events occurred in Delhi and five neighboring states, with Punjab accounting for nearly half at 3,384. This year's farm fires are at a six-year low in Punjab and Haryana, though Uttar Pradesh reported higher activity than previous years.
Cooler temperatures prevailed, with a maximum of 27.4°C and minimum of 12.7°C—both below normal—due to northwesterly winds from the Himalayas. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) noted westerly winds up to 17 kmph on Friday, with forecasts of 10-15 kmph northwesterly winds over the next six days, potentially carrying pollutants from Punjab and Haryana toward Delhi.
The IITM forecast predicts 'very poor' air quality from November 8 to 10, 2025, and for the subsequent six days. IMD anticipates mainly clear skies with morning smog or shallow fog until November 10, followed by mist or haze, which could aid pollutant dispersal through daytime heating but risks worsening pollution overall due to seasonal factors like lower wind speeds and firecracker bursts in winter.