Delhi’s pollution woes: Fewer farm fires, but NCR cities India’s most polluted

Data from Central Pollution Control Board showed while Delhi’s AQI has increased from Tuesday’s 374, prominent pollutants remained PM2.5 and PM 10 – particulate matter less than 2.5 microns and 10 microns, respectively – deep enough to penetrate lungs.

According to Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology’s (IITM) forecast, no respite is in sight and the AQI is likely to be in the ‘Very poor’ category up to Friday. In its bulletin, IITM said, “The air quality is likely to be in the Severe category on 22.11.2025. The outlook for the subsequent six days – the air quality is likely to be in the Severe to Very Poor category.”

As per IITM’s Decision Support System, at 18.03%, emissions from Delhi’s transport sector remained the dominant contributor to PM2.5 pollution in the Capital. Delhi’s residential emissions also remained high at 4.65%, while contribution of industrial pollution was recorded at 4.23% and stubble burning at 3.88%.

On Wednesday, Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh reported 890 farm fires – among the lowest for this time of the year. The number of farm fires from Punjab was only 16, and it was even lower at 11 in Haryana, as per data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute.

Between September 15 and November 19, the highest number of farm fires, at 10,175, was reported in MP, followed by 4,409 in UP. These two states reported the highest number of farm fires at 658 and 115, respectively, on Wednesday.

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