A thick layer of smog covered parts of Mumbai and Delhi on Friday, as slow wind speeds and winter weather trapped pollutants close to the ground, pushing air quality levels into the ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ categories.
In Mumbai, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 214 at Bandra Reclamation and 222 in Bandra Kurla Complex around 9 a.m., both falling under the ‘poor’ category. Other neighbourhoods reported similar trends, with Borivali East registering an AQI of 150 and Chembur at 132.
Delhi saw an even sharper decline in air quality. The city’s overall AQI touched 312 on Friday morning, rising from Thursday’s 271. Several monitoring stations, including Anand Vihar and Ashok Vihar, recorded AQI levels above 300, placing them firmly in the ‘very poor’ range. The thick haze was accompanied by a dip in temperatures, with the minimum hovering around 12°C, according to the Regional Meteorological Centre.
To contain pollution levels, municipal authorities in Delhi deployed truck-mounted water sprinklers across multiple zones. However, experts note that such measures offer only temporary relief, as stagnant air during winter prevents pollutants from dispersing efficiently.
The CPCB classifies AQI values between 0-50 as ‘good’, 51-100 as ‘satisfactory’, and 101-200 as ‘moderate’. Levels between 201-300 are considered ‘poor’, 301-400 ‘very poor’, and 401-500 ‘severe’.
Smog conditions in both cities are expected to persist until wind patterns strengthen or rainfall improves atmospheric cleansing.