Mumbai blanketed in haze as AQI plummets to 144

The dip in air quality comes along the heels of city recording an AQI of 90 on January 1 and 79 on January 2, an improvement spurred by the brief spell of unseasonal showers on New Year’s day. (ANI Photo)

Mumbai woke up to a blanket of haze as air quality deteriorated significantly on Sunday with the overall air quality index (AQI) plummeting to 144 by evening, as per Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

The sharp dip AQI came two days after the air quality had improved and touched 79, following rain on January 1. Of the city’s 30 stations, 24 monitoring stations were active on Sunday and they showed that only one pocket — Powai — recorded below-100 AQI.

The worst air quality was recorded in Byculla at 194, followed by 184 in Malad West near Mindscape, 171 in Mazgaon belt, 169 at Mumbai airport and 160 in Vile Parle, as visibility was affected across the city.

According to the CPCB standards, AQI readings between 0 and 50 are regarded as good or safe, 51-100 satisfactory, 101-200 moderate, 201-300 poor, 301-400 very poor and above 400 severe.

According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the city is likely to experience “partly cloudy skies with haze” until at least January 6. While visibility is slated to improve briefly, the IMD has forecast another spell of hazy skies starting January 10.

Meterologists have attributed the haze to reduced wind speeds in the city, which trap suspended pollutants in the atmosphere for longer durations. As per CPCB reports, PM 2.5 and PM10 were identified among the prominent pollutants in the city on Sunday.

The neighbouring pockets of Mumbai found no respite with Navi Mumbai recording an AQI of 153 Sunday evening. Of the six active stations across Navi Mumbai, the MPCB stations in Sanpada and Nerul breached the 200-mark to log AQIs of 215 and 209 respectively.