Meghalaya’s Byrnihat Tops Global Pollution List Again

Thirteen of the world’s 20 most polluted cities are located in India, with Byrnihat topping the list, according to the latest World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, published on Tuesday.

The report reveals that Delhi remains the most polluted capital city globally, while India ranks as the fifth most polluted country, showing slight improvement from its third-place position in 2023. The average PM2.5 concentration in India has decreased by 7%, from 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023 to 50.6 in 2024.

Despite this improvement, the situation remains dire, with 35% of Indian cities recording PM2.5 levels more than 10 times the World Health Organization’s safety limit of 5 micrograms per cubic meter.

Byrnihat, a town on the Meghalaya-Assam border, is suffering from severe pollution due to emissions from local industries, including distilleries and iron and steel plants.

Delhi’s pollution crisis continues to worsen, with its annual average PM2.5 concentration rising from 102.4 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023 to 108.3 in 2024. The city’s air quality worsens further in winter, driven by a mix of vehicular emissions, crop burning, firecrackers, and unfavorable weather conditions.

Other Indian cities among the top 20 most polluted globally include Mullanpur, Faridabad, Gurugram, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, and Muzaffarnagar.