Byrnihat: This little-known Meghalayan city is the world's most polluted, surpassing Delhi, Gurgaon, and Noida
India. Byrnihat, a small but heavily industrialised town in Meghalaya, tops the list, according to the World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air technology firm IQAir. Delhi, already infamous for its hazardous air, retains its place as the most polluted capital city on the planet.
India, while improving slightly, is still among the worst-hit nations. Ranking as the world’s fifth most polluted country in 2024—down from third place in 2023—the nation recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre, still ten times higher than World Health Organization (WHO) safety limits.
A Decline in Pollution, But Not Enough
There’s a silver lining: India saw a 7% drop in PM2.5 concentrations compared to the previous year. However, the improvement is barely noticeable when Delhi’s pollution levels are examined. The city’s annual PM2.5 concentration rose from 102.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023 to 108.3 in 2024, underscoring its relentless struggle with toxic air.
Beyond Delhi, other heavily polluted cities include Mullanpur (Punjab), Faridabad, Gurugram, and Noida. Overall, 35% of Indian cities have PM2.5 levels exceeding ten times the WHO guideline of 5 micrograms per cubic metre.
What’s Polluting India’s Air?
India’s air pollution problem is multi-layered. In Byrnihat, the primary culprits are industrial emissions from distilleries, iron and steel plants. Delhi, on the other hand, suffers from a mix of factors—vehicular exhaust, construction dust, crop-burning smoke from neighbouring states, and winter weather that traps pollutants closer to the ground.
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