13 Out of 20 Most Polluted Cities Are in India: Meghalaya’s Byrnihat on Top, Delhi Most Polluted Capital
New Delhi, 11 March – (www.deccanlive.com): Air pollution remains a serious issue in India, as revealed by a 2024 report from Swiss air quality company IQ Air. According to the report, 13 out of the 20 most polluted cities in the world are located in India.
Burnihat in Meghalaya Tops the List
Burnihat in Meghalaya has been ranked as the most polluted city in the world. Additionally, Delhi has been named the most polluted capital city globally.
India’s Pollution Ranking Drops
India is ranked as the 5th most polluted country in the world in 2024. In 2023, India was ranked 3rd, showing some improvement in pollution levels.
- In 2024, the average PM 2.5 level in India was 50.6 micrograms per cubic meter, compared to 54.4 micrograms in 2023 — a decrease of 7%.
- Despite this improvement, 6 out of the 10 most polluted cities in the world are still in India.
- Delhi’s annual average PM 2.5 level was 91.6 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024, which is extremely high.
Other Countries with High Pollution
Besides India, the most polluted cities list includes:
- 4 cities from Pakistan
- 1 city from China
Oceania – The Cleanest Region
While some regions struggle with high pollution levels, Oceania was the cleanest region in 2024. About 57% of the cities in Oceania meet the World Health Organization (WHO) air quality guidelines.
Oceania includes 14 countries, such as:
- Australia
- New Zealand
- Fiji
- Papua New Guinea
- Nauru
- Kiribati
- Micronesia
- Marshall Islands
Pollution Levels 10 Times Higher Than WHO Guidelines
The report highlights that in 35% of Indian cities, the PM 2.5 levels are 10 times higher than the safe limits set by the WHO.
- Poor air quality is reducing the average lifespan of Indians by 5.2 years.
- Between 2009 and 2019, approximately 1.5 million deaths per year in India were linked to PM 2.5 pollution.
What is PM 2.5?
PM 2.5 refers to fine pollution particles smaller than 2.5 microns in diameter.
- These particles can enter the lungs and bloodstream, causing health issues like:
- Breathing problems
- Heart disease
- Lung cancer
- Major sources of PM 2.5 include:
- Vehicle emissions
- Industrial smoke
- Burning of wood and crop residue
