Children and Adults Suffer in Byrnihat, the World’s Most Polluted Town
Byrnihat, India’s most polluted town, faces year-round toxic air, causing severe health issues. Industrial emissions, poor geography, and lack of state cooperation worsen the crisis, prompting a joint pollution-control effort.
Two-year-old Sumaiya Ansari, from the small industrial town of Byrnihat in India, had trouble breathing for several days before she was rushed to the hospital in March. Doctors had to give her oxygen to help her recover. Her father, Abdul Halim, recalled the terrifying moment: "It was very scary, she was breathing like a fish."
Sumaiya is just one of many people in Byrnihat suffering from health issues likely caused by the dirty air. Despite being surrounded by the green hills of Assam and Meghalaya, the town itself is choking on pollution. Byrnihat was recently named the World’s most polluted metro area by Swiss group IQAir.
In 2024, the town’s average level of PM205—tiny particles in the air that can enter the lungs and cause serious illness — was 128.2 micrograms per cubic meter. That is more than 25 times the safe limit suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO). These minuscule particles can lead to diseases such as asthma, heart problems, and even cancer.
Byrnihat, poor air quality is not just a winter problem, like in many other parts of India. Here, pollution stays high all year round. Government data shows respiratory cases jumped from 2,082 in 2022 to 3,681 in 2024. According to Dr. J Marak from the local health center, “Ninety percent of the patients we see daily come either with a cough or other respiratory issues.”
Residents also complain about skin allergies, eye inflammation, and even dust settling on their crops and clothes. “Everything is covered with dust or soot,” said local farmer Dildar Hussain. Every day tasks like drying laundry or working in the fields have become difficult.
Experts say Byrnihat’s worsening condition reflects the larger environmental crisis in India, where unchecked industrial growth is harming air quality. The town hosts around 80 factories, many of which emit harmful air pollutants. The town hosts around 80 factories, many of them emitting harmful gases. In addition, smoke from trucks and the town’s bowl-like geography, surrounded by hills — trap the pollution, making it harder to clear out.
As Byrnihat sits between Assam and Meghalaya, both states have often blamed each other for the growing crisis. But after the IQAir report made global headlines, the two states have finally agreed to set up a joint committee to find long-term solutions.
