1 6 A layer of smog engulfs the city amid deteriorated air quality, in Noida, Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025. The IGP-HF region spans parts of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Pakistan and constitutes one of the world’s most polluted air basins. (PTI)Annual average PM₂.₅ levels in the region are seven to 20 times higher than World Health Organisation guidelines, with severe consequences for human health and economic outcomes. Air pollution in the region stems mainly from five sources, according to the report. In many jurisdictions, more than half of ambient PM₂.₅ concentrations originate outside local boundaries, carried by regional pollutants.

Source: The Telegraph January 16, 2026 15:16 UTC