Mumbai Haze: Air Quality Goes Worse, Pollution Reaches Hazardous Level; Thick Cloud Layer Worsens Visibility

The residents of Mumbai woke up to another day of haze and mist on Thursday morning. Mumbai weather has been hazy for the past three days.

Mumbai, Feb 8: The residents of Mumbai woke up to another day of haze and mist on Thursday morning. Mumbai weather has been hazy for the past three days. Meanwhile, the air quality index of Mumbai has also gone worse in the past few days, with pollution touching hazardous levels. A thick cover of clouds over Mumbai also worsened visibility as light remained dim.

The officials of the Indian Meteorological Department said that the suspension of dust particles in air over the city and suburbs, the heavy traffic on roads and construction work at several places were responsible for the poor air quality and the haze.

The Air Quality Index of Mumbai at 9 am on Thursday was at 455, which was at hazardous level. The Air Quality Index was ‘Very Unhealthy’ in prime areas like Bandra.

“There is a thick sheet of clouds over Mumbai, resulting in obscure sunlight,” India Meteorological Department’s Deputy Director General (Western Region) KS Hosalikar said as quoted by PTI. He said the slow winds had caused dust particles to remain suspended for a long time over Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.

There was no major delays in local trains or metro. The services were facing delays of about 5 minutes, which were majorly due to operational reasons.

Doctors say that such weather is not good news for Mumbaikars. “Such weather leads to pollution which further results in breathing related diseases. If this weather persists for a longer time, the number of aesthma and other such diseases will go up in the near future,” said Dr Ravindra Kamble, a physician.