Rajahmundry Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Rajahmundry AQI Right Now

41

Category: Good

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 6.6 µg/m³

PM10: 40.6 µg/m³

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

Rajahmundry Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.56.6 µg/m³
PM1040.6 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)7.03 µg/m³
NO₂12.33 µg/m³
SO₂2.48 µg/m³
CO630.92 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Rajahmundry

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

Health Impact — Rajahmundry

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 0.3 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Health Recommendations for Rajahmundry

  • 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 Rajahmundry Air Quality

Rajahmundry, the cultural capital of Andhra Pradesh and gateway to the Godavari delta, faces a distinctive air quality challenge shaped by its paper industry heritage and riverside geography. The city hosts two major paper manufacturing complexes - Andhra Paper Limited and the JK Paper Rajahmundry unit - whose combined operations release particulate matter, SO2, and chemical odours into the ambient air year-round. These industrial emissions are compounded by the seasonal burning of rice paddy stubble across the vast East Godavari delta, one of the most productive rice-growing regions in India, where post-harvest burning peaks from December through February.

Winter months (November–February) bring the worst air quality as temperature inversions settle over the low-lying Godavari floodplain, trapping pollutants from paper mills, vehicle exhaust, and agricultural fires close to ground level. PM2.5 concentrations frequently exceed 100 µg/m³ during December and January mornings, particularly in areas downwind of the paper mill corridor along the Rajahmundry–Kovvur stretch. The Godavari's broad riverbed creates a natural channel that can either disperse or concentrate pollutants depending on wind direction - southerly winds push mill emissions into the city centre, while northerly winds offer relative relief.

The monsoon season (June–September) delivers the cleanest air, with heavy rainfall (averaging 1,100 mm annually) washing out particulates and suppressing dust. The Godavari floods during this period significantly improve air quality by settling dust across the floodplain. Post-monsoon months (October–November) see a gradual deterioration as humidity drops and the first crop residue fires begin in the delta. Rajahmundry's growing vehicular traffic - fuelled by its role as East Godavari's commercial hub and the busy NH-16 corridor - adds a steady baseline of NOx and PM10 throughout the year.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Paper mill emissions (Andhra Paper, JK Paper)
  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Agricultural stubble burning (Godavari delta)
  • Construction dust
  • Brick kilns

Geography: Northern bank of the Godavari River in East Godavari district; humid subtropical climate, low-lying river plains prone to winter inversions

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Rajahmundry

How do paper mills affect Rajahmundry air quality?

Rajahmundry hosts two major paper manufacturing plants - Andhra Paper Limited and JK Paper - that operate pulping, bleaching, and recovery boiler processes releasing particulate matter, SO2, and characteristic chemical odours. During winter inversions, these emissions get trapped in the low-lying Godavari river valley, contributing significantly to elevated PM2.5 and PM10 levels in nearby residential areas. The paper mill corridor between Rajahmundry and Kovvur is particularly affected.

When is air quality best in Rajahmundry?

July and August typically have the cleanest air in Rajahmundry, with AQI often in the Good to Satisfactory range. Heavy monsoon rainfall (the city receives around 1,100 mm annually) washes out particulates, suppresses road dust, and the Godavari floods help settle dust across the floodplain. Steady monsoon winds also provide good atmospheric dispersion of industrial emissions.

Does Godavari delta crop burning affect Rajahmundry pollution?

Yes, significantly. The East Godavari delta is one of India's most productive rice-growing regions, and post-harvest stubble burning from December through February sends smoke plumes into Rajahmundry. Combined with winter temperature inversions and reduced wind speeds, this agricultural burning elevates PM2.5 levels across the city, especially in the early morning hours when the inversion layer is strongest.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities