Experts warn this temporary relief may not last, with pollution levels likely to rise over the weekend as wind speeds decrease.

Whatever the causes of the smog, by one ranking Delhi was not just the most polluted city in the world, but “nearly five times as bad as the second most polluted city, Dhaka,” in Bangladesh next door, as Shashi Tharoor, a leader of the opposition in Parliament and best-selling author, posted on X.

Hundreds of millions of Indians breathe some of the world’s most toxic air all year round. Air pollution in the capital area that’s home to about 30 million people is especially stubborn. In winter, the cold weather actually makes the smog even worse — and potent.

Unhealthy

Air quality continues to be a significant concern, with several key locations across the city reporting 'very poor' conditions and notable fluctuations in pollution levels

While AQI has marginally improved, the city continued to remain covered in dense smog in the early hours of the day