GUWAHATI: Guwahati continues to grapple with poor air quality, with major monitoring stations reporting alarming pollution levels. As of March 11 at 10:00 AM, the air quality at Lokpriya Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport recorded an average AQI of 255, peaking at 452. Pan Bazaar and Railway Colony fared no better, with average AQI readings of 240 and 251, respectively, and maximum levels reaching 398. Such conditions pose a significant health risk, with prolonged exposure potentially causing severe respiratory discomfort.
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According to the latest World Air Quality Report 2024 by Swiss air quality technology firm IQAir identified Byrnihat in Meghalaya as the most polluted city in the world. This small industrial town has surpassed even Delhi, which remains the most polluted capital globally. India ranked fifth in terms of pollution, improving from third place in 2023, with a 7% decline in PM2.5 levels. However, six of the world’s ten most polluted cities are still in India.
With 35% of Indian cities reporting PM2.5 concentrations exceeding ten times the WHO safety limit, air pollution remains a dire concern, cutting life expectancy in India by an estimated 5.2 years.
