While hazy skies and low visibility have become a common sight for Mumbaikars these days, the numbers on air quality index (AQI) monitors across the city keep telling a different story. If these devices are to be believed, Mumbai’s air quality was largely satisfactory (51-100) or moderate (101-200) in the past few days.

Yet commuters, who witnessed notable haze in the early hours of Wednesday, are sceptical about these readings. “I live on the 19th floor, and the air outside has been hazy for a few days. While I have an AQI app on my phone, air visibility is the first parameter I go by,” said a Bhandup resident.