New Delhi: Rising pollution levels of the nation are a big concern; they should be mitigated at the earliest, and otherwise the situation would go out of control. As per the World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air quality company IQAir, Byrnihat in Assam is declared the most polluted city worldwide, and Delhi becomes the most polluted capital city across the world.
India occupies the fifth position as the most polluted country in the world in 2024, slightly improved from third in 2023. The report reveals a 7% drop in PM2.5 pollution levels, with an average of 50.6 micrograms per cubic meter in 2024, compared to 54.4 micrograms per cubic meter in 2023.
In spite of some improvement, out of the 10 most polluted cities, six are in India, including Byrnihat (Assam), Delhi, Mullanpur (Punjab), Faridabad, Loni, and Gurugram. Other highly polluted Indian cities in the top 20 include Ganganagar, Greater Noida, Bhiwadi, Muzaffarnagar, Hanumangarh, and Noida.
PM2.5 is a very small particle smaller than 2.5 microns; it can enter the lungs and bloodstream easily, leading to several diseases such as breathing issues, increasing heart diseases, and cancer as well. Some of the sources, like vehicle emissions, industrial activities, burning of wood, and crop waste, are increasing such kinds of life-threatening pollution.
Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, former chief scientist at WHO and advisor to India’s health ministry, said that while India has made progress in air quality monitoring, more action is needed. He stressed that strict enforcement of pollution laws is essential. “Industries must stop taking shortcuts and install proper equipment to reduce emissions,” she said.
Although India has taken several steps to curb air pollution, experts feel that fast action is needed to protect the health of millions.
