Guwahati: Byrnihat, a town on the Assam-Meghalaya border, has been named the most polluted city in the world, according to the World Air Quality Report 2024, released on March 11 by Swiss air quality technology company IQAir. The report highlights India’s persistent air pollution crisis, with 13 of the world’s 20 most polluted cities located in the country.
India ranked as the fifth most polluted country in 2024, an improvement from third place in 2023. Despite a 7% decline in PM2.5 levels, averaging 50.6 micrograms per cubic metre in 2024 compared to 54.4 in 2023, the country remains home to six of the world’s 10 most polluted cities. Delhi, which continues to struggle with severe air pollution, recorded an annual PM2.5 concentration of 91.6 micrograms per cubic metre, nearly unchanged from 92.7 in 2023.
The 13 Indian cities in the global top 20 include Byrnihat, Delhi, Mullanpur (Punjab), Faridabad, Loni, New Delhi, Gurugram, Ganganagar, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Muzaffarnagar, Hanumangarh, and Noida. Experts warn that air pollution remains a major public health risk, reducing India’s average life expectancy by 5.2 years. A Lancet Planetary Health study found that between 2009 and 2019, about 1.5 million deaths annually in India were linked to long-term exposure to PM2.5 pollution.
PM2.5, fine particulate matter smaller than 2.5 microns, penetrates deep into the lungs and bloodstream, causing respiratory illnesses, heart disease, and cancer. Major sources include vehicle emissions, industrial pollution, and biomass burning.
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former WHO chief scientist and advisor to India’s health ministry, emphasized that while India has made progress in air quality monitoring, concrete policy action is lacking. She called for greater subsidies on LPG cylinders to reduce biomass burning, stricter vehicle emission controls, and stronger industrial pollution enforcement.
“A mix of incentives and penalties is needed,” she said, stressing the importance of public transport expansion, construction site regulations, and industry compliance with emission laws. As pollution worsens in cities like Byrnihat and Delhi, experts warn that immediate intervention is crucial to prevent further health and environmental damage.