📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Fredericknoronha
Weather
Delhi’s AQI Surpasses Mumbai’s as Both Cities Battle Smog
✍️ News18
🗓 22 Oct 2026, 12:36 PM
👁 17
Air‑quality data show Delhi’s pollution level now higher than Mumbai’s, with both metros grappling with smog as winter approaches in Delhi and summer peaks in Mumbai.
Air‑quality monitoring agencies report that Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has risen above that of Mumbai, placing the capital in a more severe pollution bracket. While Mumbai experiences high temperatures typical of the pre‑monsoon summer, Delhi is entering the cooler winter season, yet both cities are contending with dense smog that restricts visibility and raises health concerns.
The Central Pollution Control Board’s latest figures indicate that Delhi’s AQI is in the ‘unhealthy’ range, whereas Mumbai’s reading, though also elevated, remains in the ‘moderate to unhealthy‑for‑sensitive groups’ band. Experts attribute Delhi’s higher levels to stagnant winter winds and continued emissions from vehicles and industry, while Mumbai’s smog is driven by heat‑induced stagnation and occasional firecracker residue.
Health officials in both cities have issued advisories urging residents to limit outdoor activities, especially those with respiratory conditions. Schools in Delhi have adjusted schedules, and Mumbai’s municipal corporation has increased street‑cleaning efforts to curb dust.
Authorities in both metros are monitoring the situation closely and are prepared to implement emergency measures, such as temporary restrictions on construction and vehicular movement, should the AQI worsen further.
The Central Pollution Control Board’s latest figures indicate that Delhi’s AQI is in the ‘unhealthy’ range, whereas Mumbai’s reading, though also elevated, remains in the ‘moderate to unhealthy‑for‑sensitive groups’ band. Experts attribute Delhi’s higher levels to stagnant winter winds and continued emissions from vehicles and industry, while Mumbai’s smog is driven by heat‑induced stagnation and occasional firecracker residue.
Health officials in both cities have issued advisories urging residents to limit outdoor activities, especially those with respiratory conditions. Schools in Delhi have adjusted schedules, and Mumbai’s municipal corporation has increased street‑cleaning efforts to curb dust.
Authorities in both metros are monitoring the situation closely and are prepared to implement emergency measures, such as temporary restrictions on construction and vehicular movement, should the AQI worsen further.