Patna Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Patna AQI Right Now

279

Category: Poor

Dominant Pollutant: pm25

PM2.5: 113.74 µg/m³

PM10: 153.13 µg/m³

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

Patna Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.5113.74 µg/m³
PM10153.13 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)25.82 µg/m³
NO₂9.72 µg/m³
SO₂0.93 µg/m³
CO134.27 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Patna

Poor: Breathing discomfort to most people on prolonged exposure.

Recommendation: Sensitive groups (children, elderly, people with respiratory conditions) should limit outdoor exposure.

Warning: Everyone should avoid prolonged outdoor activities. Keep windows closed and use air purifiers if available.

Health Impact — Patna

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 5.2 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.67 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Patna

  • General Population: Everyone should reduce prolonged outdoor exertion.
  • Elderly: Avoid outdoor activities. Stay indoors.
  • Children: Avoid outdoor play and exertion.
  • Lung Disease Patients: Stay indoors. Keep windows closed.

Understanding Patna Air Quality

Patna, the capital of Bihar, sits on the southern bank of the Ganges in one of India's most pollution-prone geographical settings - the middle Ganges Plain. The flat, low-lying terrain at just 53 metres elevation offers no natural barriers to pollutant accumulation, and winter inversions create some of the most severe and prolonged air quality episodes in the country.

October through January sees consistently hazardous conditions, with PM2.5 regularly exceeding 250 µg/m³ during November and December. Patna has repeatedly appeared on WHO and IQAir lists of the world's most polluted cities. The city's pollution is uniquely multi-source: hundreds of brick kilns in the periurban ring, widespread residential biomass and coal combustion (Bihar has low LPG penetration compared to national average), open waste burning in virtually every neighbourhood, and vehicular exhaust from a congested road network.

Dense morning fog during December–January compresses the atmospheric boundary layer to under 100 metres, trapping overnight emissions and creating AQI readings above 500 (Severe+). The Ganges itself creates an atmospheric moisture layer that enhances fog formation. Post-Chhath Puja emissions in November add a cultural dimension to the seasonal pollution peak. Bihar's limited industrial pollution monitoring and enforcement capacity mean many emission sources operate without controls. The monsoon (July–September) brings dramatic but brief relief before the cycle resumes.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Brick kilns
  • Biomass and coal combustion (residential)
  • Construction dust
  • Waste burning
  • Industrial emissions

Geography: Middle Ganges Plain at ~53 m elevation on the southern bank of the Ganges; one of India's most polluted airsheds due to flat terrain and dense population

Peak pollution months: October, November, December, January

Frequently Asked Questions — Patna

Why is Patna air quality so bad?

Patna faces a perfect storm of pollution factors: flat Gangetic Plain geography with severe winter inversions, hundreds of surrounding brick kilns, widespread residential biomass/coal burning, open waste burning, vehicular congestion, and limited pollution enforcement. Its riverside location creates humidity that promotes dense fog, further compressing the pollution layer during winter.

What is the most polluted month in Patna?

November is typically the worst, with NAQI frequently exceeding 400 (Severe) for days. PM2.5 can surpass 350 µg/m³ as post-Chhath Puja emissions, brick kiln operations, biomass burning, and the onset of dense fog all converge. December and January remain in the Very Poor to Severe range.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities