Sasaram Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Sasaram AQI Right Now

108

Category: Moderate

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 39.38 µg/m³

PM10: 110.1 µg/m³

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

Sasaram Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.539.38 µg/m³
PM10110.1 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)9.44 µg/m³
NO₂6.72 µg/m³
SO₂1.2 µg/m³
CO746.85 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Sasaram

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

Health Impact — Sasaram

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 Sasaram

  • 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 Sasaram Air Quality

Sasaram, the headquarters of Rohtas district in southwestern Bihar, is defined by two sharply contrasting identities: it is home to the magnificent tomb of Sher Shah Suri — a masterpiece of Indo-Islamic architecture rising from an artificial lake — and it is one of Bihar's primary cement manufacturing centres, with multiple plants exploiting the limestone deposits of the nearby Kaimur Hills. The Son River flows near the town, and the terrain is more rugged and rocky than the typical Gangetic plain, with quarries and mines punctuating the landscape. This industrial-geological setting creates an air quality profile distinct from Bihar's predominantly agricultural towns.

The October–January period brings the harshest air quality conditions. Cement plants operating year-round emit calcium carbonate dust, kiln gases including SO2 and NOx, and fine PM2.5 that elevates the baseline pollution well above agricultural-only towns. Stone quarrying and limestone mining in the Kaimur belt add coarse and fine mineral dust, particularly damaging during the dry season when there is no rainfall to suppress it. These industrial sources compound with the standard winter problems of domestic biomass burning, brick kiln emissions, and temperature inversions. The Son River valley can channel and concentrate industrial emissions under calm winter conditions, worsening air quality for riverside settlements.

Monsoon rains (June–September) averaging 1,000–1,100 mm suppress quarry dust and wash particulates from the air, providing significant relief even as cement plants continue operations at reduced capacity. The rocky Kaimur terrain drains quickly, meaning post-monsoon waterlogging is less of an issue compared to northern Bihar. Pre-monsoon months (March–May) see intense heat and peak quarrying activity, generating substantial dust. Sasaram's historical monument is directly affected by industrial particulate deposition, creating a tension between economic development and heritage conservation.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Cement industry emissions
  • Stone quarrying dust
  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Domestic biomass burning
  • Brick kilns

Geography: Rohtas district headquarters in southwestern Bihar; Sher Shah Suri's tomb (architectural monument), cement manufacturing hub, Kaimur Hills and Son River, rocky terrain

Peak pollution months: October, November, December, January

Frequently Asked Questions — Sasaram

How does the cement industry affect Sasaram's air quality?

Sasaram's cement manufacturing plants are the city's most significant pollution source, emitting calcium carbonate dust, SO2, NOx, and fine PM2.5 from kilns operating year-round. Limestone quarrying in the nearby Kaimur Hills adds mineral dust. Combined, these industrial sources elevate Sasaram's baseline particulate levels above typical agricultural Bihar towns, and the effects are visible as white dust coating surfaces near the plants.

Is Sher Shah Suri's tomb affected by Sasaram's air pollution?

Yes — the magnificent tomb of Sher Shah Suri, a nationally protected monument of immense architectural significance, experiences particulate deposition from cement industry emissions and quarrying dust. The alkaline calcium carbonate dust from cement plants can cause surface discolouration and accelerate weathering of the sandstone structure. Conservation authorities face an ongoing challenge balancing industrial development with monument preservation in Sasaram.

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