Two -year -old Sumaiya Ansari, who lives in India’s most polluted city of Barnihat (a city in Meghalaya), had a problem in breathing. He was admitted to the hospital. Doctors say that people are suffering from various diseases due to the polluted air of the city.
The annual average PM2.5 level of Bernihat in 2024 was 128.2 micrograms per cubic meter, 25 times more than the World Health Organization recommendation. PM 2.5 is small particles that can cause serious diseases by reaching the lungs.
Sumaiya’s father Abdul Haleem said that when his daughter had a problem in breathing, he was very scared. According to government data, the case of respiratory infection in the area will increase from 2,082 in 2022 to 3,681 in 2024.
The city tops the most polluted cities in the list of Swiss Group Iquair. Doctors say that 90 percent of patients who come daily suffer from cough or other respiratory problems.
Local residents say that poisonous wind also causes skin rashes and eye irritation. Crops are spoiled and the clothes become difficult to dry.
The situation in Barnihat is similar to other cities in India, where environmental protection is being ignored due to rapid industrialization. The air quality in Barnihat is poor throughout the year, while in other cities this problem occurs only in winter.
There are about 80 industries in the city, many of which are highly polluting. Experts say that the “basin -like topography” of the city prevents pollutants from spreading. Assam and Meghalaya governments have now agreed to work together to deal with pollution by forming a joint committee.
