Fifteen out of 24 cities in Haryana ranked among India's 100 most polluted cities based on PM2.5 levels in the first half of 2024, according to a new analysis. According to India's National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), safe limits for PM2.5 and PM10 annual levels are 40 micrograms per cubic metre and 60 micrograms per cubic metre, respectively. However, these limits are much higher than the World Health Organization's (WHO) 2021 guidelines, which recommend 5 micrograms per cubic metre for PM2.5 and 15 micrograms per cubic metre for PM10. Air quality data from January to June showed that every city in Haryana exceeded both NAAQS and WHO PM10 standards. Faridabad was the most polluted city in Haryana, with an average PM2.5 level of 103 micrograms per cubic metre, far above NAAQS and WHO guidelines. Only three cities -- Palwal, Ambala, and Mandikhera -- managed to keep PM2.5 levels below the NAAQS limits. Gurugram had the highest PM10 concentration at 227 micrograms per cu
The AQI in Mumbai was 160 on October 23 as of 5 pm. Ahmedabad, too, recorded the same index value. Delhi was further behind with an index value of 135
Bhiwadi, located on the outskirts of Delhi, was ranked among the two most polluted cities in the world. Delhi followed it closely behind
In 2021, none of the cities in India met the prescribed World Health Organization air quality standards of 5 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), stated the World Air Quality Report 2021
According to report, more than 90 per cent of air pollution-related deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, including India