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Stubble Burning Fuels Delhi's Air Crisis: Forecast Grim
3 Nov
Summary
- Delhi's air quality is in the 'very poor' category at AQI 348.
- Stubble burning's contribution to PM2.5 is predicted to rise.
- Farm fire incidents have significantly decreased year-over-year.
New Delhi's air quality plummeted to an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 348 on November 3, 2026, categorized as 'very poor.' Projections indicate that stubble burning will contribute an increasingly significant portion of the city's PM2.5 pollution over the subsequent three days.
The contribution of farm fires to Delhi's PM2.5 is forecast to climb from 8.58% on November 2 to an estimated 15.30% on November 3. This rise coincides with ongoing detections of farm fires in neighboring states.
On November 2, 2026, satellites recorded 219 incidents of paddy residue burning across monitored states, with Punjab and Rajasthan showing the highest numbers. The contribution of stubble burning is expected to further increase to over 20% by November 5, 2026.
Despite the current impact, data shows a substantial reduction in farm fire incidents over the years. From September 15 to November 2, 2026, a total of 3,535 incidents were detected, a marked decrease from figures in previous years.
While stubble burning is a key factor, Delhi's deteriorating air quality is a complex issue influenced by multiple pollution sources and dependent on meteorological conditions.
