Deoghar Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Deoghar AQI Right Now

115

Category: Moderate

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 35.27 µg/m³

PM10: 120.65 µg/m³

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

Deoghar Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.535.27 µg/m³
PM10120.65 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)9.11 µg/m³
NO₂3.91 µg/m³
SO₂8.47 µg/m³
CO773.39 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Deoghar

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

Health Impact — Deoghar

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.6 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.16 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Deoghar

  • 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 Deoghar Air Quality

Deoghar, home to the Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple - one of India's twelve Jyotirlingas - is Jharkhand's most visited pilgrimage destination, attracting millions of devotees annually during the Shravani Mela. Situated in the Santhal Pargana division on the eastern Chota Nagpur Plateau, the city's air quality reflects a mix of religious tourism-driven vehicular congestion, domestic biomass burning in surrounding villages, and the growth pressures of a rapidly expanding smaller city.

Winter months (November–February) bring the worst air quality as temperature inversions over the plateau trap emissions near ground level. PM2.5 concentrations during peak winter typically range from 80–130 µg/m³, driven by diesel generator exhaust from hotels and dharamshalas near the temple complex, biomass burning for heating, and brick kiln operations on the city periphery. The narrow bazaar lanes around the Baidyanath temple see persistent localised pollution from auto-rickshaw and diesel tempo traffic serving the pilgrim economy.

The monsoon season (June–September) brings significant relief, delivering 1,200+ mm of rainfall that washes out particulates and restores Good AQI readings. The Shravani Mela period (July–August), despite attracting millions of Kanwariyas, coincides with heavy monsoon rains that naturally mitigate pollution from the pilgrim influx. Deoghar's relatively small industrial base means its air quality challenge is primarily vehicular and domestic rather than industrial, and the surrounding plateau forest cover provides some natural filtration.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Road dust
  • Religious tourism-related congestion
  • Construction dust
  • Domestic biomass burning
  • Brick kilns

Geography: Santhal Pargana on eastern Chota Nagpur Plateau; sacred Baidyanath Jyotirlinga pilgrimage centre, semi-urban with growing tourism infrastructure

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Deoghar

How does pilgrimage tourism affect Deoghar's air quality?

Deoghar's Baidyanath Jyotirlinga temple attracts millions of pilgrims annually, creating heavy vehicular congestion on narrow bazaar roads, diesel generator exhaust from accommodation facilities, and increased waste burning. The Shravani Mela (July–August) brings the largest crowds but coincides with monsoon rains that help mitigate air quality impacts.

When is air quality best in Deoghar?

Monsoon months (June–September) offer the cleanest air as heavy rainfall washes out particulates and suppresses dust. October also sees relatively clean conditions before winter inversions set in. December–January typically has the worst air quality when cold, calm conditions trap emissions.

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