Raigarh Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Raigarh AQI Right Now

104

Category: Moderate

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 58.25 µg/m³

PM10: 104.4 µg/m³

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

Raigarh Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.558.25 µg/m³
PM10104.4 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)22.28 µg/m³
NO₂39.79 µg/m³
SO₂8.42 µg/m³
CO1196.4 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Raigarh

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

Health Impact — Raigarh

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 2.6 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.31 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Raigarh

  • 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 Raigarh Air Quality

Raigarh district is home to one of India's most concentrated clusters of sponge iron plants - over 40 units operating coal-based direct reduced iron (DRI) kilns within a 50-km radius. These small and medium-scale plants, many using outdated technology, emit enormous quantities of particulate matter, SO2, CO, and heavy metals. The steel rolling mills that process sponge iron into finished products add further emissions, making Raigarh one of the most polluted small cities in central India.

Winter months (November–February) see severe air quality deterioration as temperature inversions trap sponge iron kiln emissions across the Kelo River plain. PM2.5 regularly exceeds 150 µg/m³, with visible black soot and metallic dust depositing on crops, water bodies, and residential areas. The Chhattisgarh Environment Conservation Board has repeatedly flagged the cluster for non-compliance, but enforcement remains challenging given the sector's economic importance to the region.

Monsoon rainfall (June–September, ~1,400 mm) provides seasonal relief, but the underlying industrial emission load means air quality rarely reaches Good levels even during the wet season. Coal trucks servicing the sponge iron units and nearby coal mines add fugitive dust to highways passing through the city, while fly ash from captive power plants accumulates in poorly managed dumps.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Sponge iron plant emissions
  • Steel rolling mill dust
  • Coal-based power plant emissions
  • Vehicle and truck exhaust
  • Road dust
  • Coal handling and transport dust

Geography: Eastern Chhattisgarh on the Kelo River; one of India's densest sponge iron manufacturing clusters with over 40 units in the district

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Raigarh

Why does Raigarh have so many sponge iron plants?

Raigarh's proximity to coal mines (IB Valley, Korba belt), iron ore sources in neighbouring Odisha, and major rail connectivity made it ideal for coal-based sponge iron manufacturing. Over 40 DRI units were established in the district from the early 2000s, creating one of India's densest sponge iron clusters and a significant pollution hotspot.

What pollutants do sponge iron plants emit?

Coal-based sponge iron kilns emit fine particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), sulphur dioxide (SO2), carbon monoxide (CO), and trace heavy metals including cadmium and lead. Many smaller units lack adequate pollution control equipment, releasing unfiltered emissions that affect surrounding agricultural land and residential areas.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities