Katihar Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today
Bihar, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5
Katihar AQI Right Now
Category: Satisfactory
Dominant Pollutant: pm10
PM2.5: 29.02 µg/m³
PM10: 50.02 µg/m³
Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.
Katihar Pollutant Levels
| Pollutant | Concentration |
|---|---|
| PM2.5 | 29.02 µg/m³ |
| PM10 | 50.02 µg/m³ |
| O₃ (Ozone) | 5.41 µg/m³ |
| NO₂ | 4.04 µg/m³ |
| SO₂ | 5.9 µg/m³ |
| CO | 1362.28 µg/m³ |
Health Advisory — Katihar
Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.
Health Impact — Katihar
Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.3 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).
Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.12 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).
Health Recommendations for Katihar
- General Population: Acceptable air quality. Unusually sensitive people should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
- Elderly: Minor breathing discomfort is possible.
- Children: Should be fine outdoors with normal activities.
- Lung Disease Patients: Consider reducing prolonged outdoor exertion.
Understanding Katihar Air Quality
Katihar is one of eastern India's most important railway junctions, where lines from Kolkata, Guwahati, Patna, and the Northeast converge in a sprawling rail yard that dominates the town's geography and economy. Dozens of diesel locomotives idle, shunt, and depart daily, creating a concentrated corridor of diesel exhaust and brake dust that runs through the heart of the town. Beyond the railway, Katihar sits at the confluence of the Mahananda and Kosi rivers and serves as a major trading hub for jute grown across the surrounding floodplains. Jute processing units release fine vegetable fibre dust that contributes to respiratory issues among workers and nearby residents.
November through February brings the worst air pollution. The twin-river confluence zone generates extreme atmospheric moisture, producing fog of exceptional density that regularly disrupts rail operations-a telling indicator of just how poor visibility becomes. Under this fog blanket, railway diesel emissions, jute mill dust, domestic biomass burning from the large low-income population dependent on dung cakes and firewood, and brick kiln emissions from the river corridors accumulate to hazardous levels. Katihar also receives transboundary pollution drifting westward from the Kolkata-Malda industrial belt along the Mahananda River valley. The mango orchards that make Katihar famous contribute to air quality only positively-their canopy provides biological filtration during the fruiting season.
Heavy monsoon rainfall of 1,300 to 1,600 mm from June through September-among the highest in Bihar due to Katihar's eastern position-delivers thorough atmospheric cleansing. The Kosi and Mahananda flood extensively, shutting down brick kilns and washing dust from every surface. Post-flood conditions can briefly worsen as organic waste decomposes, but overall monsoon air quality is vastly superior to winter. Katihar's air quality improvement hinges on electrification of the railway junction-already underway-which will eliminate the town's single most concentrated pollution source.
Primary Pollution Sources
- Railway yard diesel emissions
- Jute mill processing dust
- Vehicle exhaust
- Domestic biomass burning
- Brick kilns
Geography: Northeast Bihar railway junction town at the Mahananda-Kosi River confluence; major jute trade centre and rail hub connecting Bihar to West Bengal and the Northeast
Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February
Frequently Asked Questions — Katihar
How does the railway junction affect Katihar's air quality?
Katihar's railway junction is one of eastern India's busiest, with dozens of diesel locomotives operating daily. The concentrated diesel exhaust and brake dust from the rail yard creates a linear pollution hotspot through the town centre. Railway electrification, currently being extended to Katihar, promises to significantly reduce this source once diesel operations are phased out on major routes.
Does jute processing contribute to Katihar's air pollution?
Yes, jute processing units in and around Katihar release fine vegetable fibre dust during the baling, grading, and initial processing stages. While this is primarily an occupational health concern for workers, it contributes to elevated PM10 levels in the immediate vicinity of processing areas. The jute retting process in nearby water bodies also releases methane and hydrogen sulphide, affecting localised air quality.
Air Quality in Nearby Cities
- Purnia AQI — Bihar
- Bhagalpur AQI — Bihar
- Araria AQI — Bihar
- Kishanganj AQI — Bihar
- Madhepura AQI — Bihar
- Banka AQI — Bihar