In a major concern, Mumbai has recorded “very poor” air again on Tuesday, February 8. With this, the city recorded deteriorated AQI for third consecutive.
According to the SAFAR network of monitoring stations, an air quality index (AQI) value of 320, which is up from 318 from the day earlier, February 7.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, February 6, SAFAR recorded AQI with value of 316.
Talking about other parts of the city, with AQI at 426 (severe), Mazgaon was the most polluted area.
Similarly, Colaba in South Mumbai recorded AQI at 348 (very poor), followed by Malad (346), Chembur (316) and Andheri (306).
Officials and experts attributed the high levels of pollution to a dust storm incursion coupled with cold conditions and weak wind speed.
The dust storm originated on February 3 over Afghanistan, Pakistan, and the border areas of Rajasthan, which entered the Konkan coast on February 5, on the back of a western disturbance which also brought down the temperature.
Last month, a storm originating in the Middle East had brought dust and haze to northwestern Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan.
This marks the city’s longest spate of unhealthy air this winter. However, SAFAR has forecast a slight improvement in the air quality of the city in the next two days.
Besides, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has recorded a minimum temperature of 18 degrees Celsius and 19.4 degrees Celsius respectively, as per Santacruz and Colaba observatory.
As per the seven day-forecast for Mumbai by the weather department, the daytime maximum temperature is likely to remain at 27 degrees Celsius, while the minimum temperature may drop steeply to 14 degrees Celsius depending on the extent to which the forecasted western disturbance influences the region. Moreover, there will be foggy conditions during the early morning hours for at least another two days.
Share
Tweet
