SoBo Air Quality Worse Than Delhi's On Monday

Colaba AQI Was 345, Capital 331; Both ‘Very Poor’

- Chittaranjan Tembhekar

Mumbai: Low wind speed, low temperature and high humidity along with vehicular pollution proved a “lethal combination” for Colaba on Monday, according to air pollution experts. The city’s southernmost point recorded air quality worse than even Delhi’s at a time when the capital is reeling under severe air pollution.

According to SAFAR, a system of air quality and weather forecasting and research developed by Pune-based Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, Colaba had an AQI (air quality index) of 345; the maximum registered in Delhi on Monday was 331. A few days ago Delhi had set a record for pollution with AQI dipping to 471, a “severe” level that affects even healthy people and seriously impacts those with existing diseases.

Usually, the strong wind blowing in from the sea over peninsular Mumbai saves it from the severe effects of air pollution.

However, Ronak Sutaria, founder of the Respirer Living sciences, which deals in air quality monitoring, said Colaba also experiences emissions from vehicles and smaller ships.

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