India accounts for 20 most polluted places globally
Meerut tops the list of the world's most polluted locations as air quality worsens across northern India.
Twenty of the most polluted places in the world are currently located in India, according to a report by India Today. Meerut in Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest pollution level with an AQI of 727, followed by Hapur at 718.
Other highly polluted cities include Hisar in Haryana and Bathinda in Punjab, which ranked third and fourth with readings of 631 and 627. Cities in Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, and Punjab represent all 20 locations on the list.
In Delhi, the air quality was in the hazardous zone on Friday morning, November 6, with an AQI of 524 recorded at 9:56 am. While the capital's air is poor, it ranked 16th on the list of the 20 most polluted places.
The pollution is being driven by factors including industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, dust from roads, and the burning of crop remains in nearby states and a neighbouring country. Satellite data has also shown smoke from farm fires in Pakistan moving into Indian regions.
Weather conditions are also contributing to the issue, as calm winds and a layer of warmer air prevent pollutants from dispersing. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has identified PM2.5 as a major pollutant in Delhi.
The air quality in the capital is deteriorating ahead of Diwali on November 8. On November 3, Delhi's daily average AQI reached 410, which is higher than the average of 376 recorded on Diwali last year.