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Mumbai Surpasses Delhi To Become India's Most Polluted City According To IQAir Rankings
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News18•16-10-2026, 13:52
Mumbai Surpasses Delhi To Become India's Most Polluted City According To IQAir Rankings
- •Mumbai has surpassed Delhi to become the most polluted city in India, ranking fifth globally in the latest IQAir rankings with an AQI of 152.
- •Unlike Delhi, the primary pollutant in Mumbai is ground-level ozone rather than PM 2.5 or PM 10.
- •A monsoon deficit, low rainfall, continuous high temperatures, humidity, and weak winds are the primary factors worsening Mumbai's air quality.
- •Delhi remains the sixth most polluted city globally with an AQI of 151, while Kolkata ranks tenth with an AQI of 124.
- •The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has ordered inspections across all 26 wards to identify pollution sources and take strict action.
Key Questions Answered
Mumbai has surpassed Delhi to become India's most polluted city, ranking fifth globally in the latest IQAir rankings with an Air Quality Index of 152. Meanwhile, Delhi is listed directly below Mumbai as the sixth most polluted city worldwide.
Unlike Delhi, where particulate matter like PM10 or PM2.5 are typical, the primary pollutant driving Mumbai's unhealthy air quality is ground-level ozone.
Mumbai's deteriorating air quality is linked to a monsoon deficit, early seasonal rain cessation, continuous heat, high humidity, and weak winds. Atmospheric scientists have associated these conditions with an El Niño-like climate pattern that traps air circulation near the ground.
