Delhi AQI Climbs To 379 As Capital Wakes To Thicker Smog

Delhi's air quality worsened further on the morning of November 4, with the overall AQI climbing to around 379 from 331 a day earlier as the capital woke to a denser blanket of smog. Air quality crossed into 'severe' territory in parts of the city, deepening a pollution spell that has built steadily through the first week of November.

The jump comes just two days after GRAP Stage II took effect across Delhi-NCR, underscoring how quickly conditions have deteriorated. Readings crossed 400 at several stations earlier in the week, and forecasters have signalled little relief in the immediate term.

What happens next

Officials are monitoring whether sustained 'severe' readings will trigger stricter Stage III measures, which can include curbs on construction and certain vehicle categories. Residents, particularly children and those with respiratory conditions, are being advised to limit outdoor exposure as the smog persists through the run-up to Diwali.

The timing is difficult, with festival-season activity set to add further to the pollution load in the days ahead. How the authorities calibrate restrictions against the practical disruption they cause will be closely watched as the capital settles into its annual winter air crisis.