Mumbai breathing much cleaner air post Diwali

The Asian Age.  | Sonali Telang

Metros, Mumbai

Air quality between 0 and 50 in the AQI is considered “good” while that between 51 and 100 is considered “satisfactory”.

The city’s air had recorded moderate level of pollutants after Diwali. However, this is the first time that air quality has improved so quickly after the festival of lights, said air pollution experts. (Representational picture)

Mumbai: Just five days after Diwali, the air quality of Mumbai has improved significantly,  reaching the “good” category in the air quality index (AQI).

The city’s air had recorded moderate level of pollutants after Diwali. However, this is the first time that air quality has improved so quickly after the festival of lights, said air pollution experts.

Air quality between 0 and 50 in the AQI is considered “good” while that between 51 and 100 is considered “satisfactory”.

According to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), an overall PM10 level (particulate matter with a diameter less than 10 micrometres) of 35 has been recorded. PM10 arises mostly from dust pollution.

Apart from this, Saturday evening recorded an overall PM2.5 level (fine particles with diameter less than 2.5 micrometres) of 17. PM2.5 arises from vehicular and industrial emissions.

An Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) official said, “The air quality after Diwali deteriorated due to the bursting of crackers, and slipped into the ‘moderate’ category with AQI up to 103. While some improvement was expected later, it has drastically improved this time and is among the purest air recorded after Diwali.”

“This could be attributed to the strong wind movement and the rain from cyclones Kyarr and Maha, which has washed away pollutants suspended on the surface,” he said.

Bhandup and Colaba recorded the best air Saturday with an AQI reading of 22, followed by Chembur (29), Borivali (31), Malad (35) and Andheri (43). While Worli, too, recorded minimal levels of PM10 and PM2.5 at 16 and 11, respectively.

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