Mumbai residents woke up to clear blue skies and mild winds on Thursday morning, but a heavy blanket of smog across several parts of the city reduced visibility and once again drew attention to the worsening air pollution levels. Many residents shared photos and videos on X showing thick haze covering the skyline and limiting visibility in various neighbourhoods. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai is likely to experience hot and humid weather conditions during the day. The minimum temperature is expected to hover around 23°C, while the maximum temperature may climb to nearly 34°C. With heatwave-like conditions already prevailing in recent days, the declining air quality has further increased discomfort for citizens.
Air quality data from monitoring platform AQI.in revealed that Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 299 in the early hours of Thursday, placing the city in the ‘unhealthy’ category. This sharp rise in pollution is significant as the city had recorded relatively improved air quality only a few days earlier, giving residents temporary relief. Experts attribute the worsening pollution primarily to dust and fine particulate matter suspended in the air. Continuous construction activities across the city are seen as a major factor contributing to the problem. Large infrastructure works including metro rail projects, flyovers, the coastal road development, road expansion projects and several private real estate constructions are releasing considerable amounts of dust into the atmosphere.
Several areas of Mumbai emerged as major pollution hotspots with extremely high AQI levels. Kanjurmarg East recorded an AQI of 392, placing it in the ‘severe’ category. Vikhroli and Sion followed closely with AQI levels of 388 and 381 respectively. Ghatkopar registered an AQI of 368, while Powai recorded 364, both reflecting highly unhealthy air quality conditions. A few locations reported slightly better readings, although the air quality still remained far from satisfactory. Gamdevi recorded an AQI of 107 and Santacruz West reported 143, both falling under the ‘poor’ category. Meanwhile, Kandivali West registered 217, Malad 227 and Worli 240, indicating unhealthy pollution levels in many residential areas.
According to standard AQI classifications, readings between 0 and 50 are considered ‘good’, while values from 51 to 100 fall under the ‘moderate’ category. AQI levels between 101 and 200 are classified as ‘poor’, and readings ranging from 201 to 300 are described as ‘unhealthy’. Any value above 300 is categorised as ‘severe’ or ‘hazardous’, posing significant health risks, particularly for children, elderly residents and people suffering from respiratory or heart-related conditions. With pollution levels once again rising sharply, concerns are growing among residents and environmental experts about the long-term impact of deteriorating air quality in Mumbai.