India accounts for 49 of the world's 50 most polluted cities
Sri Ganganagar in Rajasthan recorded the highest Air Quality Index of 821 in a global ranking on November 10.
India accounts for 49 of the world's 50 most polluted cities, according to data from AQI.in reported by India Today. In a global city ranking recorded at 9:54 am on November 10, Rajasthan's Sri Ganganagar ranked as the most polluted city with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 821.
Pakistan's Lahore was the only city outside India to feature on the list, ranking 14th with an AQI of 430. Delhi stood at 24th place with an AQI of 393. Other highly polluted cities included Bathinda in Punjab at 629, Sirsa in Haryana at 544, Hisar at 516, and Faridkot at 506.
The pollution is widespread across northern India, with several cities in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh recording AQI readings above 400. Cities such as Ludhiana, Patiala, Budaun, Jaunpur, and Gorakhpur also featured in the rankings.
The air quality in Delhi has worsened following Diwali on November 8. On November 9, the capital's AQI stood at 663, which was a 69 per cent rise from the post-Diwali AQI recorded last year.
Delhi minister Kapil Mishra accused people of deliberately setting fields on fire in Punjab, citing a rise in stubble-burning incidents. The Aam Aadmi Party rejected these allegations.
The India Meteorological Department has forecast no rain in Delhi until November 15. Without rainfall or stronger winds to clear pollutants, the region's air quality is expected to remain unbreathable.