Mumbai Air Quality Remains Severe On Saturday Morning; AQI Stays Above 200 Across City

Mumbai continued to battle hazardous air pollution on Friday, January 17, with the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) remaining firmly in the Severe category, raising fresh public health concerns. According to real-time data from AQI.in updated at 8:30 am, Mumbai recorded an overall AQI of 210, indicating dangerously high levels of particulate matter across large parts of the city.

While the AQI in Mumbai was marginally lower than the Maharashtra average, air quality conditions across residential, commercial, and industrial zones remained unsafe for prolonged outdoor exposure. PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations-key indicators of air pollution-were significantly above permissible limits, posing serious health risks, especially to children, the elderly, and those with respiratory ailments.

Several neighbourhoods reported alarmingly high pollution levels. Swastik Park emerged as the worst-affected area, recording an AQI of 291, with PM2.5 and PM10 levels at 216 and 259 micrograms per cubic metre, respectively. Yagna Nagar followed with an AQI of 264, while Mount Mary Station 2 reported a Severe AQI of 246.

Other localities including Wadala West (238), Sewri West (230), Bhoiwada (225), Churi Wadi (227), Malad (215), Charkop (215), and Bandra Kurla Complex (212) also remained in the Severe category. Pollution hotspots were largely concentrated in traffic-heavy corridors and industrial pockets such as Chembur, Deonar, Kurla, and the Wadala Truck Terminal, where emissions from vehicles, construction dust, and waste processing activities continue to contribute to deteriorating air quality.

Even coastal and relatively open areas were not spared. Juhu, Worli, Vile Parle West, and Mulund West recorded AQI readings above 200, while Colaba, Navy Nagar, Powai, and Mount Mary remained in the Unhealthy range, indicating widespread pollution across the city.

Earlier this week, Mumbai had briefly seen marginal improvement. As per AQI.in data updated at 9:42 am on January 15, the city's AQI stood at 186, categorised as Unhealthy. However, pollution levels worsened again on January 16, when the AQI touched 235, marking a fresh spike in particulate matter concentrations.