References

Reported figures are official station readings carried by the cited reports, with their times and averaging periods. This story is a snapshot of one morning, not a live monitor.

The Hindu, 9 Nov 2026 - CPCB station readings: ITO AQI 406 at 4:20 a.m. (Severe), Rajiv Chowk 381 at 1:30 a.m., South Extension 360 at 4:00 a.m.
The Hindu, 9 Nov 2026 - DPCC hourly PM2.5 of 760.99 µg/m³ at Akshardham, 11 p.m. Sunday; Supreme Court 10 p.m. firecracker window.
Central Pollution Control Board - About the National AQI (PDF) - the six categories (Severe = 401-500) and their health-impact wording.
WHO global air quality guidelines, 2021 - PM2.5 guideline of 15 µg/m³ as a 24-hour average, 5 µg/m³ annual.
NASA Earth Observatory - observed winter haze pooled over the Indo-Gangetic plain, and the temperature-inversion mechanism.
The Conversation - Delhi's winter inversion, mixing heights and low-wind ventilation, explained by atmospheric scientists.
CDC / NIOSH - respirator filter classes: N95 filters at least 95% of airborne particles.

Map: © OpenStreetMap contributors; tile style by the Humanitarian OpenStreetMap Team, hosted by OpenStreetMap France (see corner credit). Illustrations in this story are stylised diagrams, not measurements or imagery.

severe

Deepavali ended at midnight. By dawn, Delhi's air had crossed into the category its own pollution board calls Severe.

This is the short story of one number - what crossed 400, what it is made of, why it stayed, and what actually helps.

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