Goa, Nov. 27 -- Delhi's annual struggle with toxic air has intensified, with the city once again enveloped in hazardous smog. Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data shows that Delhi's 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) surged from 130 on October 1 to a staggering 428 by November 11, before slightly easing to 327 on November 26-still categorized as "Very Poor."

While stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana is often blamed for Delhi's pollution, Decision Support System (DSS) data from the Ministry of Earth Sciences suggests a more complex picture. Early October farm fires contributed almost nothing to Delhi's pollution, but by October 17, their share rose to 2.62 per cent as the AQI crossed 250. November saw sharper spikes:

These ...