Mumbai Air Quality Drops to Poor Category Following Diwali Festivities

UPDATE - follow-up to Mumbai AQI Rises From 131 to 278 on Diwali: Mumbai's Air Quality Index jumped sharply from 131 in the moderate category at 1 p.m. to 278 in the poor category by 10 p.m. on Deepavali, according to the Central Pollution Control Board dashboard and the Air Quality Index website. The afternoon reading of 131 sat lower than Deepavali afternoon figures of 194 in the year prior, 181 in 2024, and 149 in 2023. Professor Gufran Baig of NIAS explained that sea winds increased in speed over a 48-hour period alongside a change in wind direction, which helped control pollutants before nighttime. He also predicted that pollutants from firecrackers would stay trapped in the air after bursting at night, causing pollution levels to rise, and that prediction came true. Despite a court order banning the bursting of firecrackers on roads, streets, and public spaces, residents set off firecrackers across Mumbai and its eastern and western suburbs by the evening, creating heavy smoke and noise.

Area Readings

By 10 p.m., several neighborhoods registered high AQI numbers. Bhandup West recorded 276, Borivali hit 269, Govandi reached 265, Chembur stood at 258, and Chandivali marked 257. Bandra East, BKC, and Bandra West all recorded 242. Further readings between 200 and 300 appeared in Bhakti Park at Wadala, Charkop, Dahisar East, and Gavdevi.

Context

The World Air Quality Index Project divides AQI into six bands, where 0 to 50 is good, 51 to 100 is moderate, 101 to 150 is unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 is unhealthy, 201 to 300 is very unhealthy, and anything above 301 is hazardous. Winter weather patterns combined with local emissions frequently trap smog over metropolitan areas during major festivals.