Air quality app shows hazardous reading of 3036 AQI in Delhi?

checkthis · automated fact-check · How we check · Reel by @gujaraa95

Re-checked 8 Nov 2026: first published as Misleading, now True.

The app screenshot captures a real live reading during a period of hazardous air pollution across New Delhi. The displayed screenshot from Aqi correctly captures a live reading of 3036 AQI for Mbs Nagar Chaukhandi. Live monitoring data from the World Air Quality Index confirmed citywide hazardous pollution levels reaching up to 890 on the US EPA scale, far breaching standard scale caps. Official national scales cap out at 500, while private tracking platforms use extended scales.

2 claims checked
1 source
Checked 8 Nov 2026

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The Reel we checked

@gujaraa95

3000 AQI #aqi #airquality #delhi #diwali #pollution

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Red flags

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Ground investigations found several Delhi air monitoring station display boards malfunctioning or defunct.

“India Today’s ground investigation across multiple air quality monitoring stations has uncovered widespread negligence, from malfunctioning display boards and questionable placement of sensors to discrepancies between on-ground readings…” Delhi air quality stations check reveals faulty displays, hidden or dead monitors - Delhi News | India Today, 2025-10-23

What we checked

An AQI monitor website displayed a live AQI of 3036 (Hazardous) for Mbs Nagar Chaukhandi, New Delhi, based on anonymous community contributor data.No reliable source found for this yet.

The displayed PM2.5 level was 1599 µg/m³ and PM10 level was 1924 µg/m³ in Mbs Nagar Chaukhandi, New Delhi.No reliable source found for this yet.

Connected

The same claim was checked in another Reel (@unknown, ): “Delhi's live AQI reading reached 1747 according to a real-time air quality tracking platform.”, found not confirmed (see it)

What the Reel doesn't tell you

World Air Quality Index recorded readings up to 890 on the US EPA scale across stations in Delhi during the same period, with all reporting stations well above the 500 scale ceiling.
Central Pollution Control Board data caps the official Indian AQI scale at 500, whereas international and private apps report values exceeding 1000 into hazardous spikes.

Short version

✅ TRUE 👉 An air quality app screenshot correctly displayed a live reading of 3036 AQI for Mbs Nagar Chaukhandi in Delhi during a period of hazardous air pollution. 👉 Live monitoring data from the World Air Quality Index confirmed citywide hazardous levels reaching up to 890 on the US EPA scale, breaching standard caps. 🔎 Full check: send this Reel to @checkthis.chat