Bhopal Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

Madhya Pradesh, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5

Bhopal AQI Right Now

123

Category: Moderate

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 47.15 µg/m³

PM10: 133.49 µg/m³

Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.

Bhopal Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.547.15 µg/m³
PM10133.49 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)41.52 µg/m³
NO₂18.37 µg/m³
SO₂5.96 µg/m³
CO438.61 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Bhopal

Moderate: Breathing discomfort to people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases.

Health Impact — Bhopal

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 2.1 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.24 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Bhopal

  • General Population: People with respiratory or heart conditions should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
  • Elderly: Reduce prolonged outdoor activities.
  • Children: Reduce prolonged outdoor play.
  • Lung Disease Patients: Avoid prolonged outdoor exertion.

Understanding Bhopal Air Quality

Bhopal, the capital of Madhya Pradesh and the "City of Lakes," has a complex relationship with air quality shaped by its unique topography. The city sits at ~500 metres elevation on the Malwa Plateau, surrounded by low hills and bisected by Upper and Lower Lakes that create a distinctive microclimate. While the lakes moderate summer temperatures, the surrounding terrain can trap pollutants in sheltered pockets during calm winter nights.

Winter months (November–February) bring the worst air quality, with PM2.5 concentrations typically reaching 100–160 µg/m³ during December and January. Temperature inversions over the lake basins create fog that suppresses vertical mixing. The industrial zones at Mandideep (south) and Govindpura contribute factory emissions, while the city's growing vehicle fleet - crossing 2 million registrations - adds to NOx and PM2.5 along congested corridors like the Hoshangabad Road and Kolar Road.

The legacy of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy has made the city acutely aware of industrial pollution risks. The MP Pollution Control Board operates multiple monitoring stations, and industrial zone expansion is more tightly regulated than in comparable cities. However, construction dust from rapid urbanisation around the BHEL corridor and periurban brick kilns remain significant PM10 sources. The monsoon (June–September) cleanses the air effectively, and the lakes contribute to better summer air quality than many central Indian cities of similar size.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Industrial emissions (Mandideep, Govindpura)
  • Construction dust
  • Road dust
  • Brick kilns

Geography: Central Indian plateau at ~500 m elevation; two large lakes (Upper and Lower) moderate local microclimate but surrounding hills can trap pollution in valleys

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Bhopal

What is the most polluted month in Bhopal?

December and January are typically the worst months, with PM2.5 concentrations averaging 100–160 µg/m³. Cold winter nights create temperature inversions that trap pollutants in the lake basins and valley areas of the city.

How do the lakes affect Bhopal air quality?

Upper and Lower Lakes moderate Bhopal's microclimate, keeping summer temperatures cooler and supporting better air quality during warmer months. However, in winter, the lake basins can trap fog and pollutants in temperature inversions. Overall, the lakes have a net positive effect on annual air quality compared to fully landlocked cities.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities