Indians battle respiratory issues, skin rashes in world's most polluted town


Smoke is released from a chimney of a factory in the town of Brynihat, ranked world's most polluted metropolitan area by Swiss Group IQAir, in India, March 29, 2025. REUTERS/Sahiba Chawdhary

BYRNIHAT, India (Reuters) - Two-year-old Sumaiya Ansari, a resident of India's Byrnihat town which is ranked the world's most polluted metropolitan area by Swiss Group IQAir, was battling breathing problems for several days before she was hospitalised in March and given oxygen support.

She is among many residents of the industrial town on the border of the northeastern Assam and Meghalaya states - otherwise known for their lush, natural beauty - inflicted by illnesses that doctors say are likely linked to high exposure to pollution.

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