Nandesari in Gujarat has recorded the highest air pollution in the country for the third consecutive day. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the Air Quality Index (AQI) in Nandesari reached 208 on June 29, around 1,287% higher than the World Health Organisation (WHO) standard.
The situation has slightly improved since yesterday, with a drop of 9 AQI points, but Nandesari still remains India’s most polluted city.
In comparison, Coimbatore and Aizawl reported the cleanest air in the country, with an AQI of just 9. This means Nandesari’s air is about 22 times worse than Coimbatore’s.
Burnihat in Meghalaya ranks second with an AQI of 151, followed by Ludhiana (133), Thoothukudi (127), and Khurja (119).
Air quality in these cities is poor due to high PM2.5 particles. In places like Thoothukudi and Mandi Gobindgarh, carbon levels are also a major concern.
Most Polluted Cities (June 29, 2025)
| Rank | City | AQI | % Worse than WHO Standards |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nandesari | 208 | 1,287% |
| 2 | Burnihat | 151 | 900% |
| 3 | Ludhiana | 133 | – |
| 4 | Thoothukudi | 127 | – |
| 5 | Khurja | 119 | – |
| 6 | Mandi Gobindgarh | 116 | – |
| 7 | Visakhapatnam | 116 | – |
| 8 | Chhapra | 113 | – |
| 9 | Imphal | 112 | – |
| 10 | Saharsa | 109 | – |
Cleanest Air Recorded in 105 Indian Cities
A total of 105 cities across India reported clean air today. Aizawl and Coimbatore topped the list with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of just 9. Other cities with clean air include Dehradun, Durgapur, Gandhinagar, Indore, Mysore, Nagpur, Madurai, and Mangalore.
This marks a positive shift, as the number of cities with clean air increased by 13% compared to the previous day.
| Air Quality Category | AQI Range | No. of Cities | Example Cities |
|---|---|---|---|
| Clean | 0–50 | 105 | Aizawl (AQI 9), Coimbatore (AQI 9), Dehradun, Durgapur, Gandhinagar, Indore, Mysore, Nagpur, Madurai, Mangalore |
| Satisfactory | 51–100 | 93 | Delhi (AQI 83, improved by 14), Mumbai, Lucknow, Pune, Noida, Patna |
| Moderate | 101–200 | 12 | Burnihat, Ludhiana, Khurja, Chhapra, Thoothukudi, Saharsa, Mandi Gobindgarh, Samastipur, Sri Ganganagar, Imphal, Visakhapatnam, Araria |
The number of cities in this category rose by 33% since yesterday, showing a concerning trend.
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