Delhi Sixth Most Polluted City in October, Ghaziabad Third, Noida Fourth
Delhi ranked sixth in India for air pollution in October, with Ghaziabad third and Noida fourth. Dharuhera topped the list, while Shillong was the cleanest city. The report highlights year-round emission sources and the need for long-term mitigation beyond seasonal measures.
In October, Delhi was ranked the sixth most polluted city in India, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 107 µg/m³, three times higher than September. Neighbouring Ghaziabad and Noida ranked third and fourth, respectively. Dharuhera in Haryana was the most polluted city, with a monthly average PM2.5 of 123 µg/m³, breaching the National Ambient Air Quality Standard on 77% of days. The top 10 list was dominated by cities from Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, all within the National Capital Region. Despite stubble burning contributing less than 6% to Delhi's PM2.5, the sharp rise in pollution underscores the impact of year-round emission sources. The report calls for long-term mitigation strategies beyond seasonal measures. Shillong in Meghalaya was the cleanest city, with a monthly average PM2.5 of 10 µg/m³. The findings indicate a sharp deterioration in air quality across the country, especially in the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Most megacities outside Delhi recorded PM2.5 levels within the NAAQS limit. The report stresses the need for sector-specific emission cuts and clear accountability mechanisms to address the persistent pollution crisis.
