Mumbai: Thick smog envelops city, as air quality ‘very poor’

Mumbaikars woke up to a smoggy skyline on Monday, as the city's air quality worsened from poor to very poor, with an AQI of over 300. Meteorologists have attributed the deterioration to build-up of air pollution in the atmosphere.

On Sunday, the city's air quality index (AQI) was 293. According to the System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) network, AQI in excess of 200 is considered ‘poor' and above 300 is ‘very poor'. SAFAR predicted AQI level to remain poor at 293 on Tuesday as well.

According to SAFAR, Mazagon recorded an AQI of 342, Colaba 336, BKC 313, Chembur 319 and Malad 323. The AQI remained below 300 in Bhandup at 218, Andheri at 215, Borivli at 183 and Worli at 169. The AQI in Navi Mumbai was 162.

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Senior scientist Gufran Beig, also founder, project director at SAFAR, said, "The air quality of Mumbai is in the poor to very poor category. The deterioration in air quality is related to ENSO-related stagnation in weather conditions. Typically, pollutants in Mumbai are cleaned by meteorological phenomena. However, this function has been reversed this year.

Meanwhile, on Monday morning, India Meteorological Department's Santacruz observatory recorded a low temperature of 23 degrees, which was 3 degrees above Mumbai's typical night-time temperature on the first day of the week.

342
The highest AQI of Monday, recorded in Mazagon