Mumbai witnessed haze during the morning hours on Sunday, followed by partly cloudy skies across the city and suburbs. Temperatures are expected to range between a maximum of 32 degrees Celsius and a minimum of 23 degrees Celsius.
Air quality in the city remains moderate, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 128, according to the Sameer app. Health experts caution that people with lung disorders, asthma, or heart conditions may experience breathing discomfort.
Among the city’s localities, Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) reported the highest AQI at 167, while Kurla registered 94, CST 121, Powai 52, Vile Parle 99, Borivali 76, Worli 97, Sion 52, Colaba 61, and Mazgaon 89. Residents are advised to take precautions, especially in areas with elevated pollution levels.
Meanwhile, Delhi saw a slight improvement in air quality on Sunday morning, as the AQI shifted from the `very poor` to `poor` category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
The national capital recorded an AQI of 269 at 7 am, an improvement from the 305 level noted at 4 pm on Saturday.
Despite this progress, areas including ITO and several other parts of New Delhi remained shrouded in a layer of dense smog.
Shadipur recorded the worst AQI level of 335, followed by Jahangirpuri (324), Nehru Nagar (319), RK Puram (307), and the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences in Dilshad Garden (303), all of which also remained in the `very poor` bracket. In contrast, Mandir Marg recorded the lowest AQI among major stations at 158, placing it in the `moderate` category.
Areas that fell under the `poor` category (201-300) included Bawana (295), Sirifort (293), Rohini (291), Vivek Vihar (289), DTU (285), Burari Crossing (283), Mundka (283), Dr Karni Singh Shooting Range (282), Dwarka Sector 8 (281), Chandni Chowk (281), Patparganj (280), Wazirpur (281), Anand Vihar (281), Sonia Vihar (277), Narela (276), Ashok Vihar (275), ITO (269), JLN Stadium (269), Punjabi Bagh (265), Pusa (263), and SRRI Mathura Road (262).
Amid poor air quality, the Delhi government stated that it is monitoring the pollution levels closely and taking appropriate steps to curb pollution on a daily basis. However, the issue has sparked a political row, with Senior Congress leader Sandeep Dixit sharply criticising the government`s handling of the crisis.
Addressing reporters on Saturday, Dikshit alleged that the worsening pollution amounted to “murder” of Delhi residents, citing health experts who have warned that long-term exposure to such toxic air reduces life expectancy, reported ANI.
“Delhi`s environment has become utterly polluted, and this has increasingly been seen over the last six to seven years. People may measure it in AQI or any other form, but I consider it murder. Doctors have said that those living in Delhi in such an environment will see their life expectancy reduced. It is as simple as slowly poisoning somebody to death, and we are all responsible for this crime”, he said, reported ANI.
Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, also called for a debate in Parliament on the national capital`s deteriorating air quality.
(With ANI inputs)
