World's most polluted: Post-Dussehra, 21 Indian cities feature in top 25
Delhi was not on the list as it recorded an AQI of 191 on Saturday, the lowest for October 24 in a decade, excluding the Covid period, the Delhi government said.
As the annual festive season gets underway, India is once again choking under severe air pollution, driven by a hazardous combination of firecrackers during Dussehra, agricultural stubble burning, vehicular exhaust, and cold weather.
On Saturday (October 24), real-time pollution rankings reveal that 21 of the world’s 25 most polluted cities are located in the country. The figures paint a troubling picture of the air millions of people breathe every day, raising urgent questions about public health, environmental protection and the future of India’s cities.
Palghar tops
According to AQI.in’s ranking recorded at 8 pm on October 24, Palghar in Maharashtra was the world’s most polluted city, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 376, which falls under the 'Hazardous' category. However, Delhi was conspicuous by its absence.
Also read: Delhi’s AQI improves to ‘moderate’ after three days of ‘poor’ air quality
Burhanpur, Madhya Pradesh, followed in sixth place with an AQI of 268 (Severe), followed by Alwar (Rajasthan), Faridabad (Haryana), Ranchi (Jharkhand) and Meerut (Uttar Pradesh) completing the top 10 world’s most polluted cities.
The alarming figures show that air pollution is no longer a problem confined to a single metropolitan area.
Earlier in the day, at 11 am, 22 of the world’s 25 most polluted cities were in India. Meerut ranked second globally, with its air quality index (AQI) stood at 386. Ghaziabad followed at fourth, with an AQI of 370. Panipat in Haryana was fifth, at 369. Noida and Greater Noida also featured in the global top 10. They recorded AQI readings of 367 and 361.
Delhi records best AQI for Oct 24 in 10 years excluding Covid period
Delhi recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 191 on Saturday, the lowest for October 24 in a decade, excluding the Covid period, the Delhi government said, attributing the improvement to sustained pollution control measures.
According to a statement issued by the Environment Department, the AQI stood at 306 on October 24 in 2024 and 275 on the corresponding date in 2025, before declining to 191 this year.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the improvement reflected the government's efforts to tackle pollution through enforcement, monitoring and public participation.
An AQI of 191 falls in the 'Moderate' category.
What is making the air so toxic?
Vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, construction dust, road dust and the burning of crop residue all contribute to the pollution burden. As winter approaches, weaker winds and unfavourable weather conditions can trap pollutants closer to the ground, making it harder for the atmosphere to clear.
The consequences can be serious. Exposure to polluted air can aggravate asthma, irritate the eyes and throat, and increase the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Children, older adults and people with existing health conditions are particularly vulnerable.
Interestingly, Delhi was absent from the 25-city ranking at the time of the October 24 snapshot. Its absence, however, does not mean that the capital’s air was clean. Delhi recorded an AQI of 296 earlier that morning, an improvement from 337 at the same time the previous day, but still a concerning level of pollution.
World’s top 10 most polluted cities (As of 8 PM, Saturday, October 24)
Source: AQI.in
1. Palghar, Maharashtra (AQI 376)
2. Palembang, Indonesia (304)
3. Kuching, Malaysia (293)
4. Pontianak, Indonesia (282)
5. Sampit, Indonesia (278)
6. Burhampur, Madhya Pradesh (268)
7. Alwar, Rajasthan (245)
8. Faridabad, Haryana (245)
9. Ranchi, Jharkhand (244)
10. Meerut, Uttar Pradesh (243)