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Punjab Cities Battle Alarming Air Pollution Levels
25 Mar
Summary
- Mandi Gobindgarh is Punjab's most polluted city with PM2.5 of 60 µg/m³.
- Chandigarh and Ludhiana also ranked among the most polluted globally.
- WHO safe limit for PM2.5 is 5 µg/m³, significantly lower than reported levels.
As of March 2026, alarming air pollution levels persist in Punjab, India, with multiple cities ranking globally for their annual average PM2.5 concentrations in 2025. Mandi Gobindgarh was identified as the most polluted city in the state and ranked 44th worldwide, recording 60 µg/m³ of PM2.5. This represents a decrease from 78.4 µg/m³ in 2024.
Chandigarh and Ludhiana also feature prominently in the rankings. Chandigarh holds the 57th position with 54.3 µg/m³ of PM2.5, down from 69.7 µg/m³ in 2024. Ludhiana is the third most polluted city in the region, ranked 66th with 52.8 µg/m³, a reduction from 60.8 µg/m³ in the prior year.
Further analysis of the 2025 data from IQAir reveals that Amritsar, Khanna, Jalandhar, and Patiala are ranked between 101 and 200 globally. Roopnagar and Bathinda also reported high PM2.5 levels, with Bathinda showing a slight increase from 2024. These figures starkly contrast with the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 5 µg/m³ for annual PM2.5.
