Nanded Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Nanded AQI Right Now

181

Category: Moderate

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 58.18 µg/m³

PM10: 220.66 µg/m³

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

Nanded Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.558.18 µg/m³
PM10220.66 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)25.74 µg/m³
NO₂4.97 µg/m³
SO₂0.89 µg/m³
CO418.92 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Nanded

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 — Nanded

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 2.6 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.31 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Nanded

  • 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 Nanded Air Quality

Nanded, situated on the bank of the Godavari River in Maharashtra's Marathwada region, holds deep religious significance as the final resting place of Guru Gobind Singh - Hazur Sahib Nanded is one of the five Takhts of Sikhism, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually. This steady flow of pilgrimage traffic, combined with the city's role as a regional agricultural market centre, generates vehicle exhaust, congestion, and road dust that form the baseline of Nanded's air pollution profile.

The semi-arid Marathwada climate (annual rainfall ~750 mm, concentrated in July–September) ensures that dry, dusty conditions prevail across most of the year. The Godavari riverbed acts as a moisture source that enhances haze formation during cool winter mornings (November–February), trapping vehicular and biomass burning emissions in a shallow boundary layer. Surrounding agricultural areas burn sugarcane trash and crop residue after the rabi sowing season, adding smoke to the winter air. Sugar mills in the surrounding Nanded and Parbhani districts operate from November through April, contributing bagasse ash and boiler emissions.

The Marathwada drought belt's persistent aridity means even moderate wind speeds lift fine soil particles, keeping PM10 elevated. The monsoon (July–September) provides excellent relief, with the Godavari in spate and sustained rains cleansing the atmosphere. September post-monsoon typically offers the cleanest air before winter haze returns in November.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Road dust
  • Agricultural burning
  • Construction dust
  • Domestic biomass burning
  • Sugar mill emissions

Geography: Godavari River bank in Marathwada region; major Sikh pilgrimage centre (Hazur Sahib), semi-arid Deccan climate, agricultural economy

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Nanded

How does pilgrimage traffic affect Nanded's air quality?

Hazur Sahib Gurudwara draws large numbers of pilgrims year-round, with peak influx during Gurpurabs (Sikh festivals). This brings thousands of buses, cars, and auto-rickshaws into Nanded's relatively narrow roads, creating traffic congestion and elevated vehicular exhaust especially around the Gurudwara precinct and Nanded city bus stand. Pilgrimage-driven hospitality (hotels, langars using LPG and firewood) adds to localised emissions.

When is the best time to visit Nanded for clean air?

August and September, during and just after the monsoon peak, offer the cleanest air in Nanded with AQI typically in the Good range. The Godavari is full and rainfall suppresses dust. Avoid December through February when dry conditions, crop burning, and sugar mill emissions combine with winter haze to push AQI into the Moderate to Poor range.

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