Forty-nine of the world's 50 most polluted cities are in India, painting a grim picture of the country's worsening air quality as winter pollution begins to grip large parts of the north, as per data by AQI.inA global city ranking recorded at 9:54 am on November 10 placed Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar at the top, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 821. A man pedals a bicycle amid a thick layer of smog.
The only city outside India to feature on the list was Pakistan's Lahore, which ranked 14th with an AQI of 430.The concentration of polluted cities across northern India was hard to miss, with Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh accounting for a large share of the rankings, with several cities recording AQI readings above 400. Delhi, meanwhile, stood at 24th place, with an AQI of 393. (Source: AQI.in) NORTH INDIA BREATHES POISONSri Ganganagar's reading of 821 was followed by Bathinda in Punjab at 629 and Sirsa in Haryana at 544.
Hisar and Faridkot occupied the next two positions, with readings of 516 and 506, respectively.The ranking also showed that pollution was not limited to the national capital or its neighbouring cities. From Ludhiana and Patiala to Budaun, Jaunpur and Gorakhpur, towns across the northern plains featured among the world's 50 most polluted places.How Far Does India's Winter Smog Travel?
By: @DipuJourno | #Diu https://t.co/HKyKpjHIbr— IndiaToday (@IndiaToday) November 9, 2026These numbers provided a snapshot of how widespread India's pollution problem has become, and why focusing only on Delhi can obscure the scale of the crisis affecting the wider region.DELHI'S DIWALI PROBLEM AND BLAME GAMEDelhi's position, notably, comes amid another severe pollution spell following Diwali on November 8.The capital's AQI rose alarmingly after firecrackers were burst despite restrictions, with dangerously polluted air recorded across several parts of the city.On November 9, the morning after Diwali, Delhi's AQI stood at 663, marking a 69% rise from the post-Diwali AQI recorded last year. People cross a road on a smoggy morning amid ongoing air pollution in New Delhi.
The worsening air has also triggered a political confrontation.Delhi minister Kapil Mishra accused people of deliberately setting fields on fire in Punjab, pointing to a sudden rise in reported stubble-burning incidents.The Aam Aadmi Party rejected the allegations, while the two sides traded accusations over the causes of the pollution. A man carries sweets for sale as he walks amid smog in Lahore, Pakistan.
Meanwhile, for residents, there is little relief in sight.The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast no rain in Delhi until November 15, even as an incoming western disturbance is expected to bring rain and snowfall to parts of the Himalayas.Without rainfall or stronger winds to clear the accumulated pollutants, the region's air quality is expected to remain unbreathable.- Ends