Mumbai woke up to a picture-perfect Saturday morning, with clear blue skies, warm sunshine and a pleasant nip in the air. However, the city’s environmental health told a different story. Despite the inviting weather, air quality levels dipped noticeably, pushing several areas into unhealthy categories and raising fresh concerns among experts.
According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Mumbai will continue to experience typical mid-November conditions through the day. The skies are expected to remain clear, with abundant sunshine and daytime temperatures ranging between 28 degrees Celsius and 30 degrees Celsius. These mild and comfortable conditions will make the afternoon ideal for outdoor activity. As evening approaches, temperatures are expected to drop to around 18 degrees Celsius, with light breezes keeping humidity levels under control and adding to the overall pleasantness of the weather.
While the skies remained clear, the air quality told a starkly contrasting tale. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s SAMEER app showed that Mumbai recorded an AQI of 156 at 10.05 am on Saturday. The readings varied significantly across neighbourhoods. Colaba, Vasai and Byculla reported relatively cleaner air, with AQI levels of 62, 91 and 94 respectively, all falling within the safer part of the spectrum. These areas remained among the few pockets where air quality conditions appeared favourable.
In many other parts of the city, pollution levels continued to rise. Powai recorded an AQI of 129, Mazgaon 195, Andheri 157 and Ghatkopar 186, placing them in the moderate range. Chembur reported even worse conditions, with an AQI of 203 that categorised its air quality as poor. The most alarming reading of the day came from the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC), which registered an AQI of 321, firmly placing it in the very poor category. The situation was only marginally better in neighbouring regions, with Navi Mumbai recording a moderate AQI of 140 and Thane reporting 98.
Air quality categories range from good to severe, with values between 0 and 100 considered good, 101 to 200 moderate, 201 to 300 poor, 301 to 400 very poor and anything above 400 classified as severe. With pollution levels expected to fluctuate through the day, residents—especially those with respiratory conditions—have been advised to remain cautious despite the favourable weather.
