Kohima Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Kohima AQI Right Now

36

Category: Good

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 19.06 µg/m³

PM10: 36.22 µg/m³

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

Kohima Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.519.06 µg/m³
PM1036.22 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)1.2 µg/m³
NO₂10.56 µg/m³
SO₂6.89 µg/m³
CO87.34 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Kohima

Good: Minimal impact on health. Great day to be outdoors!

Health Impact — Kohima

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 0.9 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.06 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Kohima

  • General Population: Air quality is satisfactory. Enjoy outdoor activities.
  • Elderly: No special precautions needed.
  • Children: Great day for outdoor play.
  • Lung Disease Patients: No restrictions on outdoor activities.

Understanding Kohima Air Quality

Kohima, the capital of Nagaland, is perched at approximately 1,500 metres in the Naga Hills of northeast India, making it one of the highest state capitals in the country. The city is built across steep ridges and deep valleys, surrounded by dense subtropical and temperate forests. With a population under 100,000 and virtually no heavy industry, Kohima generates modest local pollution, and its elevated position with good natural ventilation ensures that air quality remains in the Good to Satisfactory range for most of the year.

The dry winter months from December through March represent Kohima's relative pollution peak. During this period, jhum (slash-and-burn) cultivation fires on surrounding hillsides produce visible smoke that drifts across the city, temporarily elevating PM2.5 levels. Domestic burning of wood and coal for heating - essential at this altitude where winter temperatures drop to near freezing - adds to the seasonal particulate load. Vehicle exhaust from the growing number of cars navigating the city's extremely steep and narrow roads contributes localised emissions, particularly along the congested main bazaar stretch. Construction activity from ongoing urban expansion and waste burning in residential areas add minor seasonal contributions.

The monsoon season (June–September) brings heavy rainfall exceeding 1,800 mm annually, thoroughly cleansing the atmosphere and maintaining air quality firmly in the Good category. Post-monsoon months (October–November) see good air quality as well, with the famous Hornbill Festival in December marking the transition to the drier period. Kohima's combination of elevation, forest cover, and limited urbanisation positions it among India's cleanest capitals, with jhum smoke and increasing vehicular traffic as the primary concerns to monitor.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Construction dust
  • Jhum (slash-and-burn) farming smoke
  • Waste burning
  • Domestic wood and coal burning

Geography: State capital of Nagaland at ~1,500m elevation in the Naga Hills; steep terrain with dense subtropical forest cover and heavy monsoon rainfall (~1,800mm annually)

Peak pollution months: December, January, February, March

Frequently Asked Questions — Kohima

What is the air quality like in Kohima?

Kohima enjoys generally good air quality owing to its high elevation (~1,500m), dense surrounding forests, and small population under 100,000. AQI readings typically remain in the Good to Satisfactory range year-round. Even during the drier winter months (December–March), pollution levels are modest by Indian standards, making it one of the country's cleaner state capitals.

What causes air pollution in Kohima?

Kohima's limited pollution comes from jhum (slash-and-burn) farming smoke during the dry season, domestic wood and coal burning for winter heating, vehicle exhaust on steep narrow roads, construction dust, and open waste burning. With no heavy industry in the region, all pollution sources are local and seasonal in nature.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities