Siliguri Air Quality Index (AQI) & Air Pollution Today

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

Siliguri AQI Right Now

43

Category: Good

Dominant Pollutant: pm10

PM2.5: 25.55 µg/m³

PM10: 42.59 µg/m³

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

Siliguri Pollutant Levels

PollutantConcentration
PM2.525.55 µg/m³
PM1042.59 µg/m³
O₃ (Ozone)15.89 µg/m³
NO₂24.65 µg/m³
SO₂4.5 µg/m³
CO853.49 µg/m³

Health Advisory — Siliguri

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

Health Impact — Siliguri

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 0.1 years (AQLI estimate, relative to WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³).

Health Recommendations for Siliguri

  • 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 Siliguri Air Quality

Siliguri, sprawling across the Terai flatlands at the base of the Darjeeling Hills, occupies one of India's most strategically important geographic positions - the Siliguri Corridor (known as the "Chicken's Neck"), which is the narrow strip of land connecting Northeast India to the rest of the country. This corridor status means enormous volumes of commercial and military vehicle traffic pass through the city daily, generating diesel exhaust that is a primary pollution source. The Mahananda River flows through the city, and the proximity to the Himalayan foothills creates unique meteorological conditions where mountain-valley breeze cycles can trap or disperse pollutants.

Winter months (November–February) bring the worst air quality as temperature inversions settle over the Terai plain and cold air drainage from the Darjeeling hills creates shallow stable layers that trap vehicle and industrial emissions near the surface. A belt of brick kilns on the city's southern periphery operates intensively during this season, contributing significantly to PM2.5 levels. Rapid unplanned urban growth - Siliguri has expanded dramatically as a trade hub for Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh commerce - has outpaced infrastructure development, resulting in unpaved roads, inadequate waste management, and congested market areas.

The tea garden belt to the north generates seasonal pesticide spraying aerosols that contribute to air quality degradation, while timber and plywood processing units on the city's outskirts add wood dust and volatile organic compounds. Hong Kong Market and other large commercial zones create intense localised traffic congestion. Despite its pollution challenges, proximity to the eastern Himalayas means strong monsoon rainfall (June–September) provides excellent natural air cleansing, and mountain-generated wind circulation can rapidly improve air quality even during transitional seasons.

Primary Pollution Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Road dust
  • Construction dust
  • Brick kilns
  • Waste burning
  • Tea garden pesticide spraying (seasonal)

Geography: Terai region at base of Darjeeling Hills; corridor city connecting Northeast India, Mahananda River, subtropical with Himalayan proximity

Peak pollution months: November, December, January, February

Frequently Asked Questions — Siliguri

Why does Siliguri experience poor air quality despite being near the Himalayas?

Siliguri sits on the flat Terai plain below the Darjeeling Hills, not in the mountains themselves. The Siliguri Corridor funnels massive vehicle traffic through the city, brick kilns operate on the periphery, and rapid unplanned growth has created congestion and waste burning issues. Winter temperature inversions over the Terai trap pollutants near the surface, and cold air drainage from the hills actually worsens the inversion effect.

What role does the Siliguri Corridor play in the city's pollution?

The Siliguri Corridor (Chicken's Neck) is India's only land connection to its northeastern states. All commercial freight, military transport, and passenger traffic to and from the Northeast must pass through this narrow corridor. This creates enormous diesel truck and vehicle volumes through the city, making vehicular exhaust Siliguri's primary pollution source, particularly on National Highway 10 and the Sevoke Road corridor.

Air Quality in Nearby Cities