The World Health Organization on Wednesday advised India to take China’s cue on tackling air pollution after its data revealed that 14 Indian cities figured in a list of 20 most polluted cities in the world, Reuters reported. The organisation’s database included a study of more than 4,300 cities.

The data showed that nine out of 10 people across the globe breathe polluted air. The database also revealed that air pollution was responsible for the deaths of almost 7 million people each year, with a majority of the victims living in poor countries in Asia and Africa. Air pollution was linked to deaths from heart disease, stroke and lung cancer.

The organisation’s data showed that many Indian cities were among some of the world’s most polluted urban areas. The list included New Delhi, Varanasi, Kanpur, Faridabad, Gaya, Patna, Agra, Muzaffarpur, Srinagar, Gurgaon, Jaipur, Patiala and Jodhpur.

The World Health Organization’s head of public health, Maria Neira, said that China had taken some major effective measures to counter air pollution in its cities. “We would be very happy if we would see a similar movement now in India which is one of the countries for which we are particularly concerned, although there are good initiatives which can be put in place quickly, still the levels are very high and we would like to see a similar decision and leadership,” Reuters quoted Neira as saying.

The WHO, however, praised the government’s Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana Scheme that has led to a switch to clean household energy.