Ula Birnagar 10th Most Polluted City in World According to IQAir 2025 Report A small town in Nadia, West Bengal, known as Ula Birnagar, has been ranked as the 10th most polluted city globally in the World Air Quality Report 2025, released by IQAir. The report highlights that Ula, along with several towns on the outskirts of Kolkata, faces severe air pollution, making it one of the most contaminated regions in Bengal. The findings have sparked concerns about public health and environmental management in the area. According to the report, Ula’s air quality in 2025 was measured at a PM2.5 level of 86.8 micrograms per cubic metre, which is over 17 times the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommended safe limit of 5 micrograms. This level of pollution is particularly alarming because PM2.5 particles are microscopic and can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, leading to serious respiratory and cardiovascular issues. The West Bengal Pollution Control Board’s remote sensors confirmed these findings, recording a PM2.5 value of 113 micrograms and an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 191 at 7 p.m. on Sunday. Such an AQI level is expected to cause breathing discomfort for individuals with pre-existing lung or heart conditions. The report also noted that Kolkata, while showing improved air quality post-COVID-19, remains more polluted than the national average. The city ranked 77th globally with an annual PM2.5 average of 51 micrograms per cubic metre, compared to India’s national average of 40 micrograms. Other heavily polluted cities in Bengal include Madhyamgram, Barrackpur, and Baruipur, which followed Ula in the rankings. Additional cities such as Howrah, Bali, Durgapur, Asansol, Haldia, Siliguri, and Kolkata were also listed among the most polluted in the region.#kolkata #iqair #ula_birnagar #west_bengal_pollution_control_board #centre_for_science_and_environment
