Sambalpur Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today
Odisha, India — Real-time Air Quality Index (AQI) and PM2.5
Sambalpur AQI Right Now
Category: Moderate
Dominant Pollutant: pm10
PM2.5: 59.04 µg/m³
PM10: 138.09 µg/m³
Last updated: 2026-03-24 — Data source: Google Air Quality API (NAQI). Live NAQI values load when you visit the page.
Sambalpur Pollutant Levels
| Pollutant | Concentration |
|---|---|
| PM2.5 | 59.04 µg/m³ |
| PM10 | 138.09 µg/m³ |
| O₃ (Ozone) | 24.3 µg/m³ |
| NO₂ | 10.63 µg/m³ |
| SO₂ | 6.14 µg/m³ |
| CO | 843.83 µg/m³ |
Health Advisory — Sambalpur
Moderate: Breathing discomfort to people with lungs, asthma and heart diseases.
Health Impact — Sambalpur
Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 2.7 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).
Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.32 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).
Health Recommendations for Sambalpur
- 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 Sambalpur Air Quality
Sambalpur, the cultural capital of western Odisha, sits on the banks of the Mahanadi River downstream of the Hirakud Dam - one of the world's longest earthen dams, whose massive reservoir moderates the regional microclimate. The city is renowned for its Sambalpuri sarees and fabrics, featuring the distinctive ikat (bandha) weaving technique practised in hundreds of handloom households across Sambalpur and surrounding villages. The textile dyeing and processing workshops use chemical dyes and boiling vats that contribute localised emissions, though on a smaller scale than the city's primary pollution sources.
Winter months (November–February) bring the worst air quality as temperature inversions over the Mahanadi valley trap emissions near ground level. PM2.5 concentrations during December–January typically range from 60–100 µg/m³, placing Sambalpur in the Moderate to Poor category. The IB Valley coalfield in neighbouring Jharsuguda district - one of Odisha's major coal mining and thermal power hubs - contributes transboundary fly ash and SO2 that drift into Sambalpur's airshed, particularly when north-westerly winds prevail. Heavy coal truck traffic on the Sambalpur–Jharsuguda corridor adds diesel exhaust and road dust.
The Hirakud Dam reservoir provides a unique microclimate advantage - the large water body moderates temperature extremes and generates local convective breezes that aid pollutant dispersion. The monsoon season (June–September) delivers 1,400–1,600 mm of rainfall that dramatically cleanses the atmosphere, bringing AQI into the Good range. The surrounding deciduous forests of the Sambalpur–Deogarh hill corridor provide natural air filtration. Post-monsoon October sees a brief clean window before winter inversions set in and IB Valley industrial emissions begin accumulating in the valley.
Primary Pollution Sources
- Vehicle exhaust
- Coal-based thermal power (IB Valley)
- Road dust
- Construction dust
- Textile dyeing emissions
- Domestic biomass burning
Geography: Western Odisha on Mahanadi River; Hirakud Dam reservoir nearby, Sambalpuri textile heritage centre, IB Valley coalfield proximity
Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February
Frequently Asked Questions — Sambalpur
How does the IB Valley coalfield affect Sambalpur's air quality?
The IB Valley coalfield in neighbouring Jharsuguda district houses major coal mines and thermal power plants whose fly ash, SO2, and coal dust drift into Sambalpur's airshed, especially during winter when north-westerly winds prevail. Heavy coal truck traffic on the Sambalpur–Jharsuguda corridor adds diesel exhaust and road dust to the transboundary pollution load.
Does the Hirakud Dam help Sambalpur's air quality?
Yes - the Hirakud Dam's massive reservoir moderates temperature extremes and generates local convective breezes that aid pollutant dispersion. The large water body helps prevent extreme temperature inversions, providing Sambalpur a microclimate advantage that keeps peak pollution levels somewhat lower than comparable inland cities without such water features.
Air Quality in Nearby Cities
- Raigarh AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Rourkela AQI — Odisha
- Deori AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Korba AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Baloda Bazar AQI — Chhattisgarh
- Mahasamund AQI — Chhattisgarh