Junagadh Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Junagadh AQI Right Now

191

Category: Moderate

Dominant Pollutant: pm25

PM2.5: 87.35 µg/m³

PM10: 123.75 µg/m³

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

Junagadh Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.587.35 µg/m³
PM10123.75 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)8.65 µg/m³
NO₂13.06 µg/m³
SO₂2.45 µg/m³
CO140.52 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Junagadh

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

Recommendation: Sensitive groups (children, elderly, people with respiratory conditions) should limit outdoor exposure.

Health Impact — Junagadh

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 4 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.5 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Junagadh

  • 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 Junagadh Air Quality

Junagadh, nestled at the foot of the sacred Mount Girnar in southern Saurashtra, is one of Gujarat's oldest cities with a distinctive air quality profile shaped by its geography. Unlike the industrial coastal cities of Gujarat, Junagadh's pollution is primarily driven by vehicular emissions, road dust, and seasonal agricultural burning from the surrounding mango orchards and groundnut farmland. The city's proximity to the Gir Forest - the last refuge of the Asiatic lion - means that forest fire smoke during dry pre-monsoon months occasionally drifts into the urban area.

Winter months (November–February) bring the worst air quality as temperature inversions settle over the Girnar foothills and trap pollutants in the relatively enclosed basin the city occupies. PM2.5 concentrations can reach 80–120 µg/m³ during December and January, with morning fog mixing with vehicular exhaust along the congested Kalwa Chowk and Mahatma Gandhi Road corridors. Post-harvest burning of groundnut stubble in surrounding Junagadh district adds seasonal PM10 spikes in October and November.

The monsoon (June–September) brings 600–800 mm of rainfall that effectively cleanses the atmosphere, and the orographic lift from Mount Girnar enhances precipitation in the area. Summer months (March–May) see elevated dust levels from the semi-arid Saurashtra landscape. Junagadh's relatively small industrial base and lower traffic volumes compared to cities like Rajkot mean it generally enjoys moderate air quality outside the winter peak season.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Road dust
  • Construction dust
  • Agricultural residue burning
  • Domestic cooking emissions

Geography: Foothills of Mount Girnar in southern Saurashtra; semi-arid climate with Gir Forest to the southwest, pilgrimage city surrounded by mango and groundnut farmland

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Junagadh

What causes air pollution in Junagadh?

Junagadh's air pollution primarily comes from vehicular exhaust in the congested old-city areas, road dust, construction activity, and seasonal agricultural residue burning from surrounding groundnut and mango farmland. Its relatively small industrial base means pollution levels are lower than Gujarat's larger cities.

When is air quality best in Junagadh?

The monsoon months (June–September) offer the best air quality, with rainfall effectively suppressing dust and washing out pollutants. The orographic effect of nearby Mount Girnar enhances local rainfall. Post-monsoon October is also relatively clean before winter inversions set in.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities