Srikakulam Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today
Andhra Pradesh, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5
Srikakulam AQI Right Now
Category: Satisfactory
Dominant Pollutant: pm25
PM2.5: 38.72 µg/m³
PM10: 49.88 µg/m³
Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.
Srikakulam Pollutant Levels
| Pollutant | Concentration |
|---|---|
| PM2.5 | 38.72 µg/m³ |
| PM10 | 49.88 µg/m³ |
| O₃ (Ozone) | 56.14 µg/m³ |
| NO₂ | 15.79 µg/m³ |
| SO₂ | 4.74 µg/m³ |
| CO | 409.88 µg/m³ |
Health Advisory — Srikakulam
Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.
Health Impact — Srikakulam
Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.8 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).
Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.19 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).
Health Recommendations for Srikakulam
- General Population: Acceptable air quality. Unusually sensitive people should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
- Elderly: Minor breathing discomfort is possible.
- Children: Should be fine outdoors with normal activities.
- Lung Disease Patients: Consider reducing prolonged outdoor exertion.
Understanding Srikakulam Air Quality
Srikakulam, the northernmost district headquarters in Andhra Pradesh, sits in the Vamsadhara River valley near the confluence with the Nagavali River. This small but historically significant city is surrounded by extensive paddy fields and jute-growing areas that define its agricultural economy. The city's air quality is primarily influenced by seasonal crop residue burning - post-harvest rice straw and jute stalk burning create dense smoke plumes from December through February that hang over the low-lying river valley during calm winter mornings.
The December–March dry season brings peak particulate levels as the combination of agricultural burning, brick kiln emissions from the peri-urban belt, vehicular exhaust, and road dust accumulates under winter temperature inversions. PM2.5 levels during these months typically range from 40–65 µg/m³, placing Srikakulam in the Moderate NAQI category. Brick kilns, which operate through the dry season to meet construction demand, are a significant localised source of PM and CO emissions. The city's still-developing road infrastructure means many residential streets remain unpaved, contributing to elevated road dust levels.
Srikakulam's coastal proximity (approximately 15 km from the Bay of Bengal) and its location in one of India's highest-cyclone-risk zones significantly influence air quality patterns. The northeast monsoon (October–December) and southwest monsoon (June–September) together bring over 1,100 mm of annual rainfall, ensuring five to six months of clean air. Frequent cyclonic disturbances over the Bay of Bengal - which disproportionately affect the north AP coast - bring intense but beneficial atmospheric flushing. The Vamsadhara and Nagavali rivers provide natural humidity corridors that help suppress dust during non-monsoon months. Srikakulam's rural character and low industrial base keep its overall pollution levels modest compared to larger AP cities.
Primary Pollution Sources
- Vehicle exhaust
- Road dust
- Agricultural burning (paddy and sugarcane)
- Brick kilns
- Construction dust
- Waste burning
Geography: Northernmost coastal AP district headquarters; Vamsadhara River valley, tropical humid climate with strong cyclone exposure, rice and jute agricultural belt
Peak pollution months: December, January, February, March
Frequently Asked Questions — Srikakulam
What causes air pollution in Srikakulam?
Srikakulam's pollution is driven by post-harvest burning of rice straw and jute stalks in the surrounding agricultural belt (December–February), brick kiln emissions during the dry season, vehicular exhaust, road dust from unpaved streets, and open waste burning. The low-lying Vamsadhara valley can trap these emissions during calm winter mornings.
How do cyclones affect Srikakulam's air quality?
Srikakulam lies in one of India's most cyclone-prone coastal zones. While cyclones cause physical damage, they bring intense rainfall and strong winds that thoroughly flush pollutants from the atmosphere, often producing the cleanest air readings of the year in post-cyclone periods.
Air Quality in Nearby Cities
- Visakhapatnam AQI — Andhra Pradesh
- Berhampur AQI — Odisha
- Jagdalpur AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Kakinada AQI — Andhra Pradesh
- Rajahmundry AQI — Andhra Pradesh
- Kondagaon AQI — Chhattisgarh