Mumbai sees cleanest air so far this year, records AQI better than Singapore and Taipei

Apart from having the cleanest air among four cities in India, the city’s AQI was better than Singapore (80) and Taipei (104).

Pollution levels on Sunday plunged to its lowest so far this year, as the air quality index (AQI) was recorded at 64 (satisfactory) during the day and further fell to 60 (satisfactory) in the evening.

The maximum temperature in the city dropped below the 30-degree Celsius mark on Sunday, leading to cool conditions. (HT file photo)

Apart from having the cleanest air among four cities, including Delhi (309; very poor), Pune (110; moderate) and Ahmedabad (248; poor), the city’s AQI was better than Singapore (80) and Taipei (104).

The maximum temperature in the city dropped below the 30-degree Celsius mark on Sunday, leading to cool conditions. Santacruz and Colaba both recorded a temperature of 28.5 degrees Celsius, which was 2.5 degree Celsius and 1.3 degree Celsius below normal, respectively. The night temperature, both in the suburbs and south Mumbai, was close to the normal mark.

“The effect of hail and thundershowers over parts of central and north-western India is being felt in Mumbai as well with a drop in day temperatures,” said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, western region, India Meteorological Department.

Five out of the 10 locations where the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) monitors air quality, observed ‘good’ AQI levels while four locations recorded ‘satisfactory’ air. Navi Mumbai was the most polluted location in the city that recorded a AQI of 103 (moderate). SAFAR forecasted an AQI of 72 (satisfactory) for Monday.

For PM2.5 pollutants, an AQI level between 0-50 is good, 51-100 is satisfactory, 101-200 is moderate, 201-300 is poor, 301-400 is very poor, and 400 above is severe.

The pollution index has fallen below 100 for the first time since December 6, when the wind and rain cause by cyclone Ockhi washed away pollutants and gave the city an AQI of 43. This was the city’s best air quality since 2015, when the monitoring began.