Mumbai Air Quality Slips to Poor Category Following Diwali Firecrackers

Mumbai saw its air quality drop sharply on Diwali as the Air Quality Index climbed from 131 at 1 p.m. to 278 by 10 p.m., according to the Central Pollution Control Board dashboard and the Air Quality Index website.

Areas Affected

The afternoon reading of 131 was lower than previous Diwali figures, which reached 194 the year before, 181 in 2024, and 149 in 2023. By night, multiple locations recorded high pollution levels, including Bhandup West at 276, Borivali at 269, Govandi at 265, Chembur at 258, Chandivali at 257, Bandra East at 242, BKC at 242, and Bandra West at 242. Additional readings in the 200 to 300 band were reported from Bhakti Park in Wadala, Charkop, Dahisar East, and Gavdevi.

Causes and Context

Professor Gufran Baig of NIAS explained that winds from the sea picked up speed and changed direction over a 48-hour period, helping control pollutants beforehand. However, he warned that smoke and pollutants from firecrackers would stay trapped in the air after bursting at night, causing pollution levels to rise just as predicted. Meanwhile, a court order bans bursting firecrackers on public roads and streets, though residents continued to set them off across Mumbai and its eastern and western suburbs.

Context

Winter celebrations in large urban areas often lead to temporary spikes in air pollution due to a combination of seasonal weather conditions and festive activities like firecracker use. Air quality indices in the 200 to 300 range fall into the poor category, which can cause breathing discomfort for people with lung or heart conditions.