NOIDA, Nov. 26 -- Gautam Budh Nagar continued to rank among the country's most polluted urban centres on Tuesday, with Noida and Greater Noida emerging as India's second and third most polluted cities. The two cities recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) readings of 373 and 364 respectively - both in the "very poor" category - despite a marginal dip in pollution levels.

Only Hapur fared worse, with an AQI of 389, according to the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) bulletin.

Ghaziabad, which had been in the "severe" category for eight straight days before Monday, also saw slight improvement, with its AQI dropping to 351 on Tuesday from 396 the previous day. The shift marked the second consecutive day the district remained out of the "se...