Smog chokes city, kills visibility

Even as the city's worsening air quality index ensured that the city and adjoining areas were enveloped in thick smog throughout Saturday — a phenomenon not regularly witnessed in Mumbai — air quality experts said that while the conditions might not be as bad as Delhi, this phenomenon should be an eye opener for Mumbai.

The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) said that while both, Santa Cruz and the Colaba observatory, reported foggy conditions, it was the high level of particulate matter PM) pollutants that resulted in the smog, reducing visibility in the city.

Gufran Beig, Director for System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) said that Mumbai's Air Quality Index (AQI) was in 'Poor' category as several places across the city reported very high levels of PM 2.5.

"Last week, the AQI had been in the 'moderate' category. In fact, on Wednesday, after cyclone Ockhi brought heavy rains and gusty winds, pollution levels dropped drastically and the AQI was reported as 'Good' but with a change in the weather conditions, the city is covered in smog," he said.

IMD officials said that they do not release fog warnings for the city. However, if the difference between day and night temperatures remains high with no improvement in the foggy condition on Sunday, the city will continue to witness the smog and haze.

On Saturday, the city registered an overall AQI of 237 while Delhi's AQI stood at 306.

Meanwhile, another expert on air quality said that it was the heavy smog that had everyone talking about the air quality and the government's apathy in dealing with the dust pollution.

"The city is a hub of construction with a high amount of dust. But the government has not made it mandatory for construction sites to follow guidelines at construction sites to mitigate dust pollution," said the expert.

RECORDED TEMP ON DEC 9

Colaba 

Max 29.0° C
Min 23.0° C

Santa Cruz

Max 29.6° C
Min 21.9° C