Delhi was ranked as the sixth most polluted city in India in October, trailing Ghaziabad and Noida, according to a new report by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). Dharuhera in Haryana’s Rewari district emerged as the most polluted city, with an average PM2.5 level of 123 µg/m³.
The study revealed a severe decline in air quality across the Indo-Gangetic Plain, with Delhi’s PM2.5 levels tripling from September’s 36 µg/m³ to 107 µg/m³ in October. Four cities each from Haryana and Uttar Pradesh — including Rohtak, Noida, Ballabgarh and Ghaziabad — made it to the top 10 polluted list.
Meanwhile, Shillong in Meghalaya was recorded as the cleanest city, followed by towns in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Sikkim, and Chhattisgarh. Experts said the findings highlight the urgent need for long-term air pollution control measures beyond short-term responses like GRAP.

