GIS study · Delhi NCR · 1–10 November 2026 · Updated 12 Nov 2026

What is really poisoning Delhi's air?

No single source. Ten causes, mapped with satellites, ground monitors and weather data.

Sentinel-5P satellite map of average nitrogen dioxide over north India, 1 to 10 November 2026, with hotspots over Delhi, Lahore and coal power plants — Average NO₂ seen by the Sentinel-5P satellite, 1–10 November 2026. Delhi, Lahore and coal power plants glow brightest.

207Average PM2.5 across 63 NCR monitors, 1–10 Nov (µg/m³). India's 24-hour limit is 60.^1,10,28

16 of 18Coal plants within 320 km show a clear NO₂ plume in Sentinel-5P satellite data.^1,3

1,052Brick kilns within 50 km of Delhi, mapped from Sentinel-2 imagery.^1,13

1.14 crPeople in the study area living within 500 m of a major road (34%).^1,11,15

Short answer: no single source. Vehicles, gases that turn into particles in the air, road dust, industry and brick kilns, coal power plants, crop fires, household fuel, garbage burning and firecrackers all add to it. In winter, cold and still air traps everything close to the ground.^30,36,38 This atlas maps each cause with satellite, ground-monitor, model and map data.

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