Mumbai’s Air Pollution Crisis Continues : Hazardous Air Quality Levels

Mumbai’s air quality has been rated as “Very Poor” with an AQI of 306 on Friday, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecast and Research (SAFAR). Several areas in the city have recorded even hazardous AQI levels, with Mazagaon in south Mumbai at 358, Chembur at 343, and Malad, BKC, and Andheri at 311. The Mumbai air pollution crisis will continue for a few days ahead with no climate respite to disperse the pollution levels.

Other areas such as Colaba, Bhandup, Worli, and Borivali also recorded AQI in the “Poor” to “Very Poor” range. In 2022, Mumbai had 18 days with a “Poor” AQI in November and December, and almost every day between December 4 and 18. In contrast, the city did not experience any “Very Poor” AQI days in 2020, but had eight such days in 2021. According to SAFAR, AQI levels between 0-50 are considered “Good,” 51-100 are “Satisfactory,” 101-200 are “Moderate,” 201-300 are “Poor,” 301-400 are “Very Poor,” and above 400 are “Severe.”

On Saturday, Mumbai’s air quality remained “poor” with an AQI of 203, continuing the trend from last week. The drop in temperature has resulted in a decrease in air quality in the city, which has had worse AQI than Delhi at least twice in the past week. Other cities in India also have poor air quality, with Pune at 181, Chennai at 178, Hyderabad at 232, Kolkata at 265, Bengaluru at 102, Ahmedabad at 130, and Delhi at 311. Delhi’s AQI is currently “very poor.”

According to SAFAR, the combination of stagnant winds, the drop in temperature, and suspended pollutants mixing with moisture in the atmosphere is causing haze in Mumbai. The air quality in the city is expected to worsen as the temperature continues to decrease. The pollutant PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentrations are currently at 130 and 203, respectively. The AQI in different areas of Mumbai include Navy Nagar and Colaba at 236, Malad at 212, Worli at 132, Sion at 165, Thane and Pimpleshwar Mandir at 127, and Nerul and Navi Mumbai at 239.