Delhi's air quality hits new lows, ranking as India's most polluted city

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): On Friday, Delhi's air quality showed a slight improvement after being in the "severe plus" category for over a week. The Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped to 371, which is still classified as "very poor," offering a brief relief to the city's residents. However, Delhi remained the most polluted city in India on that day. Lucknow and Patna followed closely behind, securing the second and third spots in pollution rankings. Lucknow recorded an AQI of 367, while Patna had an AQI of 249, both falling under the "very poor" category. These cities continue to struggle with hazardous air quality levels.

In contrast, Aizawl, the capital of Mizoram, stood out as the least polluted city in India on Friday. With an AQI of just 27, Aizawl was experiencing healthy air quality, providing a stark contrast to the situation in larger cities. Similarly, Bagalkot in Karnataka also enjoyed relatively clean air with an AQI of 43. While the improvement in Delhi's air quality offers some temporary respite, the overall pollution situation across various Indian cities remains concerning. As the country battles rising pollution levels, cities like Aizawl and Bagalkot highlight the regions where air quality continues to remain favorable, offering a glimpse of healthier urban environments. Efforts to curb pollution in larger cities like Delhi, Lucknow, and Patna remain urgent to ensure better air quality for their residents.