Mumbai’s air quality took a turn for the worse on Wednesday morning, as the Bandra area recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 300, a level considered ‘poor’ by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Visibility was affected by a thick layer of smog that enveloped the upscale Bandra neighborhood, known for its skyscrapers.
The AQI of 300, primarily due to elevated levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 pollutants, was recorded at the IITM Bandra Kurla Complex station at 6 AM. Earlier, at 5 AM, the same station registered an AQI of 307, indicating ‘very poor’ air quality.
In contrast, other parts of Mumbai experienced comparatively better air quality. The Borivali East IITM station reported an AQI of 165, and the Byculla station recorded 133, both falling into the ‘moderate’ category.
The CPCB categorizes AQI levels as follows: 0-50 (‘good’), 51-100 (‘satisfactory’), 101-200 (‘moderate’), 201-300 (‘poor’), 301-400 (‘very poor’), and 401-500 (‘severe’).
Delhi’s Air Quality Worsens
The national capital, Delhi, also faced deteriorating air quality on Wednesday, with AQI levels exceeding 300 and even reaching 400 in several locations, classifying the air as ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’.
In response to the rising pollution levels, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi. The CAQM has urged all implementing agencies to maintain vigilance and intensify pollution control measures, while also appealing to citizens to strictly adhere to the GRAP guidelines for Stages I and II.