ALERT! Kolkata’s Air Quality Plumps to 49th in India

Kolkata has been ranked 49th among 259 Indian cities in terms of air pollution, according to IQAir’s 2025 World Air Quality Report. The city has an annual average PM2.5 concentration of around 51 µg/m³, which is more than 10 times the WHO guideline.

The report highlights that air pollution is a regional issue, affecting not just Kolkata but also surrounding areas like Madhyamgram, Barrackpore, and Howrah. In fact, Madhyamgram is ranked 7th nationally with a PM2.5 level of 83.3 µg/m³, while Barrackpore is 21st with 62.6 µg/m³ PM2.5 level and Howrah is 30th with 55.1 µg/m³.

Globally, India is the 6th most polluted country, with an average PM2.5 concentration of 48.9 µg/m³. The report attributes the worsening air quality to factors like industrial emissions, vehicular pollution, construction dust, and seasonal influences like crop-burning and temperature inversions.