World’s most polluted cities: Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai among top ten

National capital Delhi, financial hub Mumbai and metropolitan Kolkata are the three Indian cities among the world’s top 10 most polluted cities on Sunday, according to the Swiss Group IQAir data on air pollution.

With the Air Quality Index (AQI) at 483, the national capital Delhi remains the most polluted city in the world, followed by Pakistan Lahore at 2nd and Kolkata at third place.

Bangladeshi capital Dhaka, another Pakistani city Karachi, and India’s financial capital Mumbai are placed at number 4, 5 and 6 in the world’s most polluted cities list, respectively.

Three Chinese cities are also in the bottom half of the list. Kuwait is the only Arab country to feature in the list of the world’s most polluted cities.

Meanwhile, Delhi continued to gasp for fresh air as the air quality in Delhi remained in the ‘Severe’ category. 

On Sunday though with a marginal dip in the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 410 against 504 on Saturday, as per System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India). 

According to the data issued by SAFAR-India, the air quality in the Lodhi Road area was recorded at 385 (Very Poor) while at Delhi University area stands at 456 (Severe).

ANI drone camera footage from the Qutub Minar area showed a thick layer of haze in the air.

A morning walker in Lodhi Garden complained of difficulty in breathing due to an increase in pollution.

A similar situation was recorded in Noida, as air quality plunged to the’severe’ category with AQI at 466, as per SAFAR-India.

Gurugram recorded an AQI of 392, keeping the air quality under the ‘Very Poor’ category.

The Statesman

Asia News Network