March 19, 2024: Assam’s Guwahati has become the second most polluted city in the world, according to the latest findings from the 2023 World Air Quality Report by IQAir.

The city's rise in pollution levels can be attributed to various factors including escalating construction activities leading to increased dust pollution and a surge in vehicular traffic.

Guwahati recorded an average annual PM2.5 concentration of 105.4, more than ten times higher than the World Health Organization's (WHO) recommended levels.

On the other hand, Bihar’s Begusarai stands at the first position as the world's most polluted city with Delhi, Mullanpur and Lahore rounding out the top five. Nine out of ten cities in the World's Most Polluted Cities ranking were from India.