In a development described as “surprising” by Indian media, the capital city of neighboring India, New Delhi, surpassed Pakistan’s Lahore on Wednesday to become the world’s most polluted city according to live rankings by the Swiss group IQAir.
Indian media reported on Thursday that, as per live updates, New Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) hit a disturbing figure of 418, raising concerns among Indian authorities. A thick layer of smog covered parts of Delhi and adjoining areas on Wednesday evening, as air pollution remained at critically high levels.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that the Akshardham area recorded an AQI of 466, categorized as “severe,” as of 5:00 PM yesterday. The AQI in Delhi at 8:00 AM on Wednesday was recorded at 361, falling into the “very poor” category, as reported by Indian media.
Thursday Update
According to live AQI data, Lahore currently stands at an AQI level of 278, categorized as “Unhealthy.” This indicates that while Lahore’s air quality is poor, it is not as extreme as some Pakistani media reports suggesting it is the world’s most polluted city; New Delhi has taken that position.
As per the live updates from the Indian website AQI.in, New Delhi’s AQI stands at 451, categorized as “Hazardous.” Comparing this to Lahore’s AQI of 278, New Delhi’s pollution level is approximately 47% higher.
