India's Most Polluted Places

Syed Firdaus Ashraf lists India's most polluted cities and towns.

NOIDA
The reasons for NOIDA's pollution ranges from construction work to industrial activity.
Traffic jams add to residents' woes.

Hanumangarh
Brick kilns, farm fires and industrial emissions are why the air quality in this Rajasthan town is poor.

Muzaffarnagar
It has many paper mills in addition to 20,000 tonnes of waste imported every month.
Besides, a large quantity of plastic is burnt causing pollution in this west UP town.

Bhiwadi
This industrial town in Rajasthan's Alwar district was the most polluted city in the world in 2021.
It ranks No. 7 this year.

Greater NOIDA
Construction activity leads to high pollution levels which forced schools to shut in winter 2024.

Sri Ganganagar
Agricultural and industrial activity causes high pollution here.

Gurugram
Traffic jams, construction activity and dust have led to breathing problems for residents, especially during winter.

Loni
About 600 illegal factories are responsible for burning e-waste, causing poor air quality in this Ghaziabad area, a yearlong problem.

Faridabad
Stubble burning by farmers leads to pollution in Faridabad.
Sprinkling water on roads to control pollution is a regular feature, but the air quality is bad to breathe.

Mullanpur
The air quality was so bad in this Ludhiana area in November 2024 that citizens had stinging eyes and breathing difficulties for 4 days.

Delhi
Pollution in the national capital is so bad that it cuts life expectancy by 5 years.
Construction activity and burning of crop residue in adjoining states makes Delhi the 2nd most polluted place in India.

Byrnihat
Cement, steel, ferro alloys, brickmaking and distillation industries make Byrnihat -- located in Meghalaya's Ri-Bhoi district -- the most polluted place on earth.