Which Two Indian Cities Apart From Delhi Are World's Most Polluted?

Despite SC orders to ban firecrackers in every state and not just Delhi NCR, the AQI of two more Indian cities, apart from the capital, crossed the hazardous mark. The three Indian cities are now in the top 10 list of the world's most polluted cities. Post Diwali celebrations, India's three cities made it to the list of the World's top 10 most polluted cities. While Delhi's AQI once again dropped to "very poor" these two cities were marked with "poor" AQI post Diwali celebrations. 

The Supreme Court had ordered the ban on firecrackers containing barium in all states of India, not limiting the restrictions just to the national capital and NCR, however, the intermittent noise of firecrackers echoed in every state of India while many cities spectated no restrictions in selling firecrackers resulting in poor air quality across the nation. 

SC's Order On Complete Ban On Firecrackers Across Nation

On November 7, the Supreme Court order called the act of busting firecrackers "selfish" stating celebrations could be done by sharing whatever we have and not by polluting the environment. The court put the onus on the citizens pointing out how adults these days are observed bursting more crackers than children and it is not just the court's duty to be sensitive to environmental matters but everyone's, the court said during the orders of banning firecrackers across the country. 

Despite the court's order to complete the ban on firecrackers amidst the air pollution crisis, intermittent noises of air pollution and thick smog in the air intensified as we approached the end of Diwali celebrations.

Which Two Cities Made It To The World's Most Polluted List?

People of Delhi spectated the city's AQI on Monday as "very poor" resulting in air quality dropping to the "hazardous stage". The IQAir Delhi declared the AQI of Delhi to be 420 post-Diwali celebrations. 

However, Delhi is not the only city in India to be most polluted as Mumbai and Kolkata also woke up with "poor" AQI post-Diwali celebrations putting themselves in 4th and 8th positions respectively in the list of top 10 world's most polluted cities.

While Mumbai earlier this year marked AQI poorer than Delhi (the most polluted city in the country), it marked "poor" AQI of 234 post-Diwali festivities according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research (SAFAR-India).

Kolkata also dipped into the category of "poor" AQI breaching the 250 mark as per the reports by the West Bengal Pollution Control Board (WBPCB). 

AQI from 400-500 and above is considered "severe", from 300-400 is observed as "very poor", from 200-300  and "poor", and from 100-200 as moderate. 

However, firecrackers are not the only cause of rising air pollution as vehicle emissions, industrial emissions, and crop fires are also among the other reasons for severe pollution in the national capital region. 

Suggested Reading: Breathing For Two: 5 Ways In Which Pollution Harms Pregnant Women