Dehradun Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Dehradun AQI Right Now

99

Category: Satisfactory

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 14.4 µg/m³

PM10: 98.58 µg/m³

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

Dehradun Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.514.4 µg/m³
PM1098.58 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)21.82 µg/m³
NO₂1.01 µg/m³
SO₂0.52 µg/m³
CO98.4 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Dehradun

Satisfactory: Minor breathing discomfort to sensitive people.

Health Impact — Dehradun

Cigarette Equivalent: Breathing this air is equivalent to smoking 0.7 cigarettes per day (based on current PM2.5 levels).

Life Expectancy Impact: Sustained exposure at this PM2.5 level could reduce life expectancy by 0.03 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Dehradun

  • General Population: Acceptable air quality. Unusually sensitive people should limit prolonged outdoor exertion.
  • Elderly: Minor breathing discomfort is possible.
  • Children: Should be fine outdoors with normal activities.
  • Lung Disease Patients: Consider reducing prolonged outdoor exertion.

Understanding Dehradun Air Quality

Dehradun, the capital of Uttarakhand, sits in the Doon Valley - a synclinal trough flanked by the Mussoorie hills to the north and the Shivalik range to the south. This distinctive bowl-shaped topography, which gives the city its gentle climate and scenic setting, becomes a liability during winter months when temperature inversions trap polluted air within the valley. From November through February, cold air settles into the valley floor while warmer air above acts as a lid, causing PM2.5 concentrations to build steadily and AQI readings to enter the Poor to Very Poor range.

Rapid urbanisation has transformed Dehradun from a quiet cantonment and education town into a sprawling state capital. The ISBT–Rajpur Road corridor, the city's main commercial spine, experiences severe traffic congestion with exhaust from thousands of vehicles contributing to NOx and PM2.5 levels. Construction activity for residential colonies, shopping complexes, and road widening projects generates persistent dust. During April–June, forest fires in the surrounding Himalayan foothills and Rajaji National Park send smoke plumes into the valley, creating episodic spikes in PM2.5 that can affect air quality for days.

Limestone quarrying in the eastern and southern fringes of the Doon Valley adds coarse particulate dust (PM10) during dry months. The monsoon (July–September) provides the cleanest air, as sustained rainfall washes out particulates and suppresses both construction and mining dust. September post-monsoon is typically the best month for outdoor activities in the city.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Construction dust
  • Road dust
  • Forest fire smoke (seasonal)
  • Brick kilns
  • Domestic biomass burning

Geography: Doon Valley between Shivalik and Himalayan foothills; state capital nestled in a valley, limestone quarrying, moderate altitude (~640m)

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Dehradun

Why does Dehradun's valley location worsen air quality?

The Doon Valley's bowl-shaped topography - enclosed by the Mussoorie hills to the north and Shivalik range to the south - creates severe temperature inversions during winter. Cold air pools at the valley floor while warm air aloft prevents vertical mixing. Vehicular and construction emissions get trapped in this shallow layer, causing PM2.5 to accumulate rapidly. This valley effect makes Dehradun's winter air quality significantly worse than what its moderate population would otherwise suggest.

When do forest fires affect Dehradun air quality?

Forest fires typically affect Dehradun from April through June, peaking in May–June before the monsoon arrives. Fires in the pine forests of the surrounding Himalayan foothills and Rajaji National Park send smoke plumes into the Doon Valley, causing episodic PM2.5 spikes. Wind direction determines impact severity - fires on the northern slopes above Mussoorie can directly funnel smoke into the city.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities