Uttar Pradesh’s air pollution crisis has intensified, with six cities featuring among India’s 10 most polluted urban centres in October, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air’s monthly air quality snapshot based on Central Pollution Control Board data. Baraut in Baghpat recorded the country’s highest average PM2.5 concentration, while Khoda in Ghaziabad and Gajraula in Amroha ranked second and third.
The findings were cited by Uttar Pradesh Congress president Aradhana Mishra ‘Mona’ on Friday, when she accused the state government of failing to tackle worsening air pollution. Ghaziabad, Noida and Meerut were the other Uttar Pradesh cities listed among the 10 most polluted urban centres in the report, titled India Monthly Ambient Air Quality Snapshot – October 2026.
Baraut recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 87 micrograms per cubic metre during the month, while Khoda recorded 85 micrograms per cubic metre. Mishra said Baraut’s average was nearly six times the World Health Organisation’s recommended limit of 15 micrograms per cubic metre.
Of the 27 Uttar Pradesh cities covered by the report, none recorded an average PM2.5 concentration within the WHO guideline, according to the figures cited by Mishra. Thirteen cities recorded average pollution levels between four and six times the WHO limit, while 11 cities were in the two-to-four-times range.
The report also highlighted repeated episodes of high pollution in major urban centres. Ghaziabad recorded pollution levels exceeding six times the WHO limit on 15 days during October. Noida recorded 25 days and Meerut 23 days when PM2.5 levels were more than four times the recommended limit.
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Mishra said exposure increases the risk of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, with children, older people, pregnant women and those with existing health conditions particularly vulnerable.
The distribution of the affected cities places the issue beyond a single municipal boundary. The cities named in the report include urban centres across western Uttar Pradesh, such as Baghpat, Ghaziabad, Amroha, Noida and Meerut. Their inclusion in the same monthly assessment points to a region-wide air-quality challenge requiring monitoring across municipal and district jurisdictions.
Mishra demanded immediate and time-bound action from the state government. She alleged that the government had focused on publicity and events instead of addressing the pollution crisis. The Congress leader said her party would prioritise clean air, safe drinking water and uncontaminated food if the INDIA bloc formed the government in Uttar Pradesh.
The CREA snapshot, released on Thursday and based on CPCB data, provides the latest monthly figures cited in the state-level political dispute. The next steps for the government and relevant urban authorities are expected to determine how the reported pollution levels are addressed across the 27 cities covered by the assessment.
