India Dominates Global Pollution Rankings: Byrnihat Tops List, Delhi Remains Most Polluted Capital

Thirteen of the world’s top 20 most polluted cities are in India, with Byrnihat in Assam emerging as the most polluted city globally, according to the World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir, published on Tuesday.

The report also found that Delhi remains the world’s most polluted capital city, while India ranked as the fifth most polluted country in 2024, dropping from third place in 2023.

Global and National Pollution Trends

The report highlighted a 7% decline in India’s PM2.5 concentrations, averaging 50.6 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024, compared to 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023. However, India still accounts for the majority of the world’s most polluted cities.

Top Polluted Cities in India (Among Global Top 20):

• Byrnihat (Assam)
• Delhi
• Mullanpur (Punjab)
• Faridabad
• Loni
• Gurugram
• Ganganagar
• Greater Noida
• Bhiwadi
• Muzaffarnagar
• Hanumangarh
• Noida

Meanwhile, four cities in Pakistan and one in China also feature in the world’s 20 most polluted cities.

Delhi’s Pollution Crisis Worsens

Despite India’s overall air quality improvement, Delhi’s air pollution has worsened, with its annual average PM2.5 concentration rising from 102.4 micrograms per cubic metre in 2023 to 108.3 micrograms per cubic metre in 2024.

Factors contributing to Delhi’s pollution crisis include:

• Vehicular emissions
• Industrial pollution
• Paddy-straw burning in neighboring states
• Firecrackers during festive seasons
• Unfavorable winter meteorological conditions

Byrnihat: India’s Most Polluted City

Byrnihat, a town on the Assam-Meghalaya border, has severe air pollution due to industrial emissions from distilleries, iron, and steel plants.

Health Impacts of Air Pollution

Air pollution remains a major health hazard in India, reducing life expectancy by an estimated 5.2 years. A study published in The Lancet Planetary Health reported that between 2009 and 2019, around 1.5 million deaths in India each year were potentially linked to long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution.

What is PM2.5?

PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns, which can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, increasing the risk of:

• Respiratory diseases
• Heart conditions
• Cancer

Call for Stronger Action

Former WHO Chief Scientist and Health Ministry Advisor Soumya Swaminathan emphasized that India has improved air quality data collection but lacks sufficient action.

Key Recommendations:
✅ Subsidizing LPG cylinders to replace biomass fuel in rural households
✅ Expanding public transportation to reduce vehicular pollution
✅ Introducing penalties and incentives for vehicle emissions
✅ Strict enforcement of industrial and construction site regulations.