In a major concern for Mumbaikars, on Monday morning, January 24, the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) rose to a 502, which falls in the severe category, as per the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).
The air quality is likely to remain ‘severe’ at least till Tuesday, January 25. An AQI of more than 500 indicates ‘severe-plus’ or hazardous pollution levels and can have profound health implications.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded a maximum of 500 AQI at the monitoring station at Mazgaon in South Mumbai, followed by Navi Nagar in Colaba and terminal 2 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.
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The average AQI of all 16 CPCB monitoring stations in Mumbai also stood at a ‘severe’ level of 405 at 11 am today.
The overall AQI deteriorated from 180 (moderate) on Sunday morning to 333 (very poor) by evening. The worst hit was Malad, which recorded an AQI of 436.
This comes as the mercury levels in Mumbai have dropped over the past few days after an increase in the temperature for last few weeks. Mumbai saw its lowest January day temperatures in 10 years.
According to reports, India Meteorological Department’s (IMD) Santacruz observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 15°C while the Colaba observatory recorded a minimum temperature of 16.2°C on Monday morning, January 24.
According to reports, the temperature in Mumbai is expected to rise from Wednesday onwards, January 26.
On Saturday, January 22, Mumbai witnessed light rainfall which was followed by the city layered with a sheet of dust on Sunday, January 23, from Balochistan, Pakistan, owing to the occasional dust-raising winds, reports stated. According to accounts, due to this phenomenon, the visibility was reduced.
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