Mumbai recorded poor air quality on all three days of Diwali, with the worst air quality index (AQI) recorded on Sunday evening at 274 points (poor). AQI measures air pollutants and particulate matter in the atmosphere. The air quality considerably improved only on Tuesday (250 points) at the end of the three-day-long celebrations. Not only did the AQI surpass safe limits, but also exceeded the predictions made by System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting Research (SAFAR), operated by the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
Out of the nine locations in Mumbai where air quality was recorded, three locations including Andheri and Navi Mumbai recorded very poor air quality on Sunday exceeding 300 points. Other locations showed poor air quality, as BKC recorded air pollution at 298 points and Mazagaon at 295 points. Colaba fared better with AQI bordering on moderate, at 201 points.
On Tuesday, areas such as Colaba, Worli, Chembur, Borivali and Bhandup recorded moderate AQI and Navi Mumbai, Mazagoan, Malad, Andheri and BKC recorded AQI bordering on moderate, at slightly over 200.
SAFAR’s forecast for Wednesday is relatively better, with predictions bordering on moderate AQI on Wednesday morning.
