Madhepura Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today
Bihar, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5
Madhepura AQI Right Now
Category: Moderate
Dominant Pollutant: pm25
PM2.5: 78.93 µg/m³
PM10: 119.26 µg/m³
Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.
Madhepura Pollutant Levels
| Pollutant | Concentration |
|---|---|
| PM2.5 | 78.93 µg/m³ |
| PM10 | 119.26 µg/m³ |
| O₃ (Ozone) | 4.71 µg/m³ |
| NO₂ | 9.11 µg/m³ |
| SO₂ | 6.1 µg/m³ |
| CO | 722.41 µg/m³ |
Health Advisory — Madhepura
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 — Madhepura
Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 3.6 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).
Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.45 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).
Health Recommendations for Madhepura
- 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 Madhepura Air Quality
Madhepura sits at the heart of the Kosi River flood plain in north Bihar, a region defined by the relentless cycle of monsoon devastation and dry-season recovery. The Kosi — often called the "Sorrow of Bihar" — has shifted its course dramatically over centuries, leaving behind a vast alluvial plain that is among India's most flood-affected landscapes. This geography shapes Madhepura's air quality story: the flat, waterlogged terrain creates intense winter fog, while the predominantly agricultural economy drives biomass and crop residue burning.
October through January marks the worst air quality period. After the monsoon floodwaters recede, farmers burn rice stubble across vast tracts to prepare fields for the rabi crop, releasing thick smoke that blankets the region through October and November. As winter deepens, temperature inversions settle over the flat Kosi plain, trapping emissions from domestic biomass burning — cow dung cakes and wood remain the primary cooking and heating fuels in this economically disadvantaged district. Brick kilns scattered across the flood-safe elevated areas operate through the dry season, contributing fly ash and carbon emissions. Dense fog from December through February further compresses the pollutant layer.
The monsoon (June–September) paradoxically brings both devastation and atmospheric relief. While the Kosi's floods displace thousands and damage infrastructure, the heavy rainfall (1,200–1,500 mm) effectively scrubs the atmosphere clean. Post-flood standing water briefly creates localized odour and decomposition issues, but PM2.5 levels drop to their annual lows. Madhepura's extreme poverty and infrastructural deficits mean that clean fuel adoption and emission controls remain distant goals.
Primary Pollution Sources
- Domestic biomass burning
- Agricultural burning
- Vehicle exhaust
- Brick kilns
- Road dust
Geography: North Bihar on the Kosi River flood plain; one of India's most flood-prone districts, predominantly agricultural with rice and maize cultivation
Peak pollution months: October, November, December, January
Frequently Asked Questions — Madhepura
How do Kosi River floods affect Madhepura's air quality?
The Kosi River floods during monsoon season (June–September) actually improve air quality by bringing heavy rainfall that scrubs particulates from the atmosphere and halting brick kiln and agricultural burning activities. However, post-flood standing water can create localised decomposition odours. The flat flood plain geography worsens winter air quality by creating intense temperature inversions that trap pollutants.
What drives air pollution in Madhepura?
Madhepura's pollution is primarily driven by post-harvest rice stubble burning (October–November), domestic biomass burning of cow dung and wood for cooking and heating throughout winter, and brick kiln emissions during the dry season. The flat Kosi flood plain geography traps these emissions under winter temperature inversions and fog, creating prolonged episodes of poor air quality from October through January.
Air Quality in Nearby Cities
- Saharsa AQI — Bihar
- Supaul AQI — Bihar
- Khagaria AQI — Bihar
- Munger AQI — Bihar
- Purnia AQI — Bihar
- Araria AQI — Bihar