Byrnihat
Byrnihat | |
|---|---|
Industrial town | |
Byrnihat Location in Meghalaya, India Byrnihat Byrnihat (India) | |
| Coordinates: 26°3′9″N 91°52′12″E / 26.05250°N 91.87000°E | |
| Country | India |
| State | Meghalaya |
| District | Ri-Bhoi |
| Block | Umling |
| Languages | |
| • Official | Khasi |
| • Regional | Bhoi dialect |
| Time zone | UTC+5:30 (IST) |
| PIN | 793101 |
| Village Code | 277492 |
Byrnihat is a town in the Ri-Bhoi district of Meghalaya, India, located on the Meghalaya–Assam border. It is an industrial town—its economy is based on the many industries located in the area. It was ranked as the most polluted city in India in 2023 by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, and as the most polluted city in the world in 2024 by IQAir. Its groundwater has also been found to be contaminated. This pollution has been blamed on several factors, including industrial pollution.
A national highway passes through Byrnihat; emissions from vehicles traveling on this highway have also been blamed for the pollution. The site has served as a border checkpoint multiple times in its history. Railway lines connecting the town with Assam have been planned or proposed multiple times, but have received firm opposition.