📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / R london
Health
Mizoram and Meghalaya towns log India's lowest PM2.5 levels, WHO data shows
✍️ The Times of India
🗓 23 Sep 2026, 09:01 PM
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World Health Organization data indicate that towns in the northeastern states of Mizoram and Meghalaya have recorded the lowest fine‑particle (PM2.5) concentrations in the country.
The World Health Organization released recent air‑quality figures that place several towns in Mizoram and Meghalaya at the bottom of India's PM2.5 rankings. Fine particulate matter, measured in micrograms per cubic metre, is a key indicator of pollution that affects respiratory health.
According to the WHO dataset, the concentrations recorded in these northeastern towns are markedly lower than the national average, which has hovered around higher levels in many urban centres. The low readings reflect the region's dense forest cover and relatively limited industrial activity.
Health experts note that such favourable air‑quality numbers can reduce the incidence of pollution‑related ailments, though they caution that seasonal variations and local fire incidents could cause temporary spikes. Continuous monitoring will be essential to maintain these standards.
The findings underscore the contrast between India's polluted megacities and the cleaner environments of its hill states, offering a potential model for sustainable development in other regions.
According to the WHO dataset, the concentrations recorded in these northeastern towns are markedly lower than the national average, which has hovered around higher levels in many urban centres. The low readings reflect the region's dense forest cover and relatively limited industrial activity.
Health experts note that such favourable air‑quality numbers can reduce the incidence of pollution‑related ailments, though they caution that seasonal variations and local fire incidents could cause temporary spikes. Continuous monitoring will be essential to maintain these standards.
The findings underscore the contrast between India's polluted megacities and the cleaner environments of its hill states, offering a potential model for sustainable development in other regions.