Mumbai’s skyline has been covered in smog for the past few days due to a meteorological phenomenon known as “air inversion” or temperature inversion. This happens when a layer of cooler air is trapped near the ground by a layer of warm air above the surface, effectively capturing pollutants and creating a smog layer. Experts predict that this smog will persist for another two days.

Despite higher temperatures than usual for this time of year in Mumbai, the city’s air quality has significantly deteriorated, with smog settling in many areas. According to SAMEER, a real-time air quality index (AQI) monitoring application of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), several monitoring stations in the city reported poor to very poor AQI on Tuesday. Notably, Chakala - Andheri East AQI monitoring station, established by the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), recorded an AQI value of 347 on Tuesday evening, while Mazgaon (also monitored by SAFAR) registered an AQI value of 307. MPCB’s AQI monitoring stations in Sion and Bandra Kurla Complex recorded AQI values of 222 and 215, respectively.