Vellore Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Vellore AQI Right Now

45

Category: Good

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 26.98 µg/m³

PM10: 45.23 µg/m³

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

Vellore Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.526.98 µg/m³
PM1045.23 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)11.78 µg/m³
NO₂9.96 µg/m³
SO₂3.88 µg/m³
CO906.11 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Vellore

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

Health Impact — Vellore

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 1.2 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.11 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Vellore

  • 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 Vellore Air Quality

Vellore, a historically significant fort city on the Palar River in northern Tamil Nadu, is today defined by two distinctive identities - as a major leather processing and tanning centre, and as home to the Christian Medical College (CMC), one of Asia's most prestigious hospitals. Both shape the city's air quality in distinct ways. The leather and tanning industry, concentrated in Vaniyambadi, Ambur, and Ranipet areas within Vellore district, involves chemical-intensive processes - chrome tanning, dyeing, and finishing - that emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), chromium particulates, hydrogen sulphide, and ammonia. While the most polluting tanneries are in satellite towns rather than Vellore city proper, the regional airshed is affected.

The dry season (December–March) brings the worst air quality as the semi-arid Palar River basin receives minimal rainfall (annual average ~900 mm, heavily concentrated in October–November northeast monsoon). PM2.5 during winter peaks typically ranges from 50–80 µg/m³. The Palar River - dry for much of the year due to upstream water extraction - exposes sandy riverbeds that contribute windblown dust. CMC Vellore attracts over 8,000 outpatients daily, generating massive traffic - ambulances, patient vehicles, auto-rickshaws, and buses - that creates congestion-related emissions in the hospital vicinity and approach roads. Road dust on the many partially paved streets adds to PM10 levels.

The northeast monsoon (October–November) and occasional southwest monsoon spillover (July–August) provide atmospheric cleansing, bringing AQI to the Good–Satisfactory range. Summer months (April–May) see high temperatures exceeding 40°C with good atmospheric mixing but elevated road dust. Vellore's air quality future depends on the tanning industry's adoption of cleaner production technologies, the completion of road infrastructure to reduce traffic congestion, and addressing the Palar River basin's chronic water stress that leaves soil surfaces exposed to wind erosion.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Leather and tanning industry emissions
  • Road dust
  • Construction dust
  • Hospital traffic (CMC Vellore)
  • Waste burning

Geography: Palar River basin in northern Tamil Nadu; major leather processing centre, famous CMC hospital, semi-arid interior climate

Peak pollution months: December, January, February, March

Frequently Asked Questions — Vellore

How does the leather tanning industry affect Vellore's air quality?

Vellore district is one of India's largest leather processing centres. Tanneries emit VOCs, chromium particulates, hydrogen sulphide, and ammonia from chrome tanning, dyeing, and finishing operations. While the most concentrated tannery clusters are in satellite towns like Ambur and Vaniyambadi, the regional airshed carries these emissions to Vellore city during unfavourable wind conditions.

Does CMC hospital traffic affect Vellore's air quality?

Yes - CMC Vellore draws over 8,000 outpatients daily from across India, generating heavy traffic from ambulances, patient vehicles, auto-rickshaws, and buses. The congestion on approach roads to the hospital complex creates localised vehicular emission hotspots. However, this traffic impact is concentrated in a few corridors rather than affecting the entire city.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities