Mumbai Weather Update: Mumbai Choked By Smog As Air Quality Deteriorates Overnight, Health Advisory Issued

Residents of Mumbai woke up to a hazy and unusually cold Saturday morning on January 31, as thick smog covered large parts of the city.

Visibility was poor in several areas, making early-morning travel difficult. The city skyline remained largely hidden during the first half of the day due to the dense haze.

Weather data from AccuWeather suggests that cloudy and hazy conditions are likely to continue throughout the day.

Temperatures are expected to range between 21°C and 31°C. While temperatures have stayed steady over the past few days, air quality levels have shown sharp fluctuations, raising health concerns.

Air Quality Slips Into Severe Category

Mumbai's air quality remains a major worry. According to data from AQI.in, the city's overall Air Quality Index currently stands at 320, which falls in the 'severe' category. This is an increase from Friday's reading of 304.

Although air quality briefly improved on Friday evening, dropping to 199 around 5.30 pm, the relief was short-lived. Pollution levels rose sharply overnight and crossed the 300 mark again, making the air unsafe even for healthy individuals.

Pollution Hotspots and Safer Pockets

More than 85 per cent of monitored locations across the city reported AQI levels above 300. Swastik Park recorded one of the highest readings at 393, followed by B S Ambedkar Nagar at 377. Other severely polluted areas include Wadala Truck Terminal, Chembur West and Savribai Phule Nagar, all reporting AQI levels well above the safe limit.

Only a few areas showed comparatively better air quality. Gamdevi Station 1 recorded an AQI of 97, making it the cleanest spot in the city and the only area in the 'moderate' category. Areas such as Magdoot, Sundar Nagar, Vidya Nagar and Mithchowki reported AQI levels between 210 and 247, which are still considered unhealthy.

Health Advisory for Residents

Experts warn that continued exposure to severe air pollution can harm even healthy people. Children, elderly citizens and those suffering from breathing or heart-related conditions have been advised to limit outdoor activities and take precautionary measures.

As per standard guidelines, AQI values between 0 and 50 are considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 200 poor, 201 to 300 unhealthy, and levels above 300 are classified as severe or hazardous.