Fishermen cast nets from a boat on the Yamuna River in New Delhi on 9 November 2026, the day after Diwali, as a dense smog layer cut visibility to near zero — with the city's average AQI recorded at 381, firmly in the 'Very Poor' bracket.
Boatmen navigated the Yamuna River in New Delhi on 9 November 2026 as a thick smog blanket slashed visibility across the city — a day after Diwali, with the capital's average AQI standing at 381 in the 'Very Poor' category.
A lone cyclist pedalled through severely reduced visibility on a New Delhi road on 9 November 2026, the morning after Diwali, as dense smog blanketed the capital and the average AQI touched 381 — well within the 'Very Poor' range.
Vehicles and two wheelers crawled through a dense smog corridor in New Delhi on 9 November 2026, with severely reduced visibility following Diwali night celebrations — the city's average AQI logged at 381, classed 'Very Poor' by authorities.
The iconic Signature Bridge and the Yamuna River were shrouded in a thick smog layer on 9 November 2026, with birds visible overhead against a hazy skyline — as New Delhi's average AQI stood at 381, placing the capital firmly in the 'Very Poor' category, one day after Diwali.
Traffic moved haltingly along a New Delhi flyover on 9 November 2026, wrapped in a thick smog layer that cut visibility significantly — the day after Diwali, with the capital's average AQI at 381 in the 'Very Poor' range.
Two wheeler riders and motorists pushed through a near opaque smog blanket in New Delhi on 9 November 2026, with severe visibility loss one day after Diwali — the city's average AQI at 381, categorised as 'Very Poor'.
The sun rose over the Yamuna River in New Delhi on 9 November 2026, barely visible through a dense smog shroud enveloping the Signature Bridge — with the capital's average AQI recorded at 381, 'Very Poor', the morning after Diwali.
Traffic on the Old Wazirabad Flyover in New Delhi was barely discernible through a thick smog blanket on 9 November 2026, with visibility severely impaired — a direct fallout of Diwali night emissions, as the average AQI stood at 381, 'Very Poor'.
Vehicles crossed the Signature Bridge in New Delhi on 9 November 2026 as a hazy, smog filtered sunrise cast a dim glow over the city — one day after Diwali, with the capital's average AQI at 381 in the 'Very Poor' category.
A cyclist rode past the Signature Bridge at dawn on 9 November 2026, the morning after Diwali, as thick smog smothered New Delhi and filtered the sunrise to a faint glow — the city's average AQI recorded at 381, 'Very Poor'.
Two wheeler commuters in New Delhi navigated hazardous smog conditions on 9 November 2026, one day after Diwali, with visibility sharply reduced and the city's average AQI persisting at 381 — in the 'Very Poor' category, according to official monitoring data.
An AQI of 381 — 'Very Poor' — means breathing New Delhi's air on 9 November 2026 was reportedly equivalent to smoking multiple cigarettes daily; health agencies advise avoiding outdoor exposure at this level, particularly for children and the elderly.