After two days of deteriorating Air Quality Index (AQI) in Mumbai, the city witnessed slight relief by Thursday noon as the overall AQI dipped from 274 on Wednesday to 263 on Thursday. However, the high Particulate Matter (PM) 2.5 levels continued to be a major concern.

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As per officials from System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), which monitors the AQI at 10 locations in Mumbai, the situation is likely to become better only after Friday. "Due to lower temperatures during early morning, haze cover was observed in several parts but with temperatures rising and cloud cover clearing at many places the haze cleared to quite an extent by afternoon," said an official adding that with western disturbance reducing the AQI will improve.

On Thursday the maximum temperature recorded at Colaba was 30 degree Celsius while the minimum was 21.5 degree Celsius with humidity of 67 per cent. Meanwhile the maximum temperature at Santacruz was 30.9 degree Celsius while the minimum was 18.2 degree Celsius with humidity of 52 per cent.

On February 8, officials from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a warning for thunderstorm with hail likely to occur at isolated places in districts of Vidarbha during the 48 hours commencing from the morning of February 11 and at isolated places in districts of south Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada during the 24 hours commencing from the morning of Februrary 12.

"Since a few weeks the number of patients with viral infections has increased one-third times. The air quality has led to an increase in viral infections and respiratory illnesses. More patients with bronchitis, chronic pulmonary diseases, and other respiratory infections are seen in the out-patient department. Not many require hospitalisation but people should visit clinics for betterment medical treatment," said Dr Om Srivastava, consultant, infectious diseases.

GFX

  • PM 2.5 smallest size pollutant known to cause respiratory illnesses  
  • 60 µg/m3 for 24 hours safe limit as per Central Pollution Control Board  
  • Poor 111µg/m3 overall PM 2.5 reported

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