Mumbaiites finally inhale clean air after 8 days

Researchers from SAFAR had predicted that ‘poor’ air quality will continue till Monday

A significant decline in pollution level was witnessed on Friday after the air quality index (AQI) was recorded in the ‘moderate’ category after eight days of ‘poor’ air. The city recorded an AQI of 188 (moderate) against 263 (poor) on Thursday and 275 (poor) on Wednesday. Researchers from System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) had predicted that ‘poor’ air quality will continue till Monday.

On Friday, the city recorded an AQI of 188 (moderate) against 263 (poor) on Thursday and 275 (poor) on Wednesday.(Representational photo/HT File)

“After a sudden rise in the wind speed from Thursday evening, pollutants were dispersed from the surface at a faster pace by Friday morning,” said Gufran Beig, project director, SAFAR, adding that for now the AQI levels were predicted at 214 (poor). “If wind speed remains similar on Friday then ‘moderate’ air quality will continue.”

On Thursday, six of the 10 locations where air quality is monitored, recorded ‘very poor’ AQI. But on Friday only two locations — Bhandup and Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) — recorded ‘very poor’ air quality, Borivli, Mazgaon recorded ‘poor’ air quality, Colaba recorded ‘moderate’ AQI, and Malad, Andheri, Chembur and Worli, all recorded the cleanest air with ‘satisfactory’ AQI levels.

“Both the easterly winds (from the land) and the sea breeze are balanced over the city. Weather systems that were leading to cloud formation have subsided. Now, along with improving AQI levels, minimum and maximum temperatures are expected to drop slightly but remain close to the normal,” said KS Hosalikar, deputy director general, western region, India Meteorological Department (IMD).

The night temperature at Santacruz was 16.7 degrees Celsius, almost a degree Celsius below normal, and Colaba recorded 20 degrees Celsius, which was normal. The weather bureau predicted a clear sky for Saturday with day and night temperatures expected at 31 and 17 degrees Celsius.