📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Sumita Roy Dutta
Weather
Severe Smog Engulfs Delhi as ITO Records AQI of 406
✍️ India Today
🗓 09 Nov 2026, 07:32 AM
👁 18
Delhi's air quality deteriorated to a severe level, with the ITO monitoring station logging an AQI of 406 as smog spread across the capital.
The capital city of India witnessed a sharp rise in air pollution on Monday, with the Indian Tobacco Organisation (ITO) monitoring station reporting an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 406, a level classified as severe. The elevated reading reflects a dense smog layer that has enveloped large parts of Delhi, reducing visibility and raising health concerns among residents.
Meteorological data indicated that stagnant wind conditions and low temperatures contributed to the accumulation of particulate matter in the atmosphere. The smog has prompted local authorities to issue advisories, urging people, especially those with respiratory ailments, to limit outdoor activities and wear protective masks.
Air quality experts warned that such high AQI levels can exacerbate chronic lung diseases and trigger acute symptoms in vulnerable groups. They also highlighted the need for sustained emission control measures to prevent recurrence of similar pollution spikes.
The city’s pollution monitoring network continues to track the situation in real time, with updates expected as the smog gradually disperses under changing weather patterns.
Meteorological data indicated that stagnant wind conditions and low temperatures contributed to the accumulation of particulate matter in the atmosphere. The smog has prompted local authorities to issue advisories, urging people, especially those with respiratory ailments, to limit outdoor activities and wear protective masks.
Air quality experts warned that such high AQI levels can exacerbate chronic lung diseases and trigger acute symptoms in vulnerable groups. They also highlighted the need for sustained emission control measures to prevent recurrence of similar pollution spikes.
The city’s pollution monitoring network continues to track the situation in real time, with updates expected as the smog gradually disperses under changing weather patterns.