Breathable air returns to Mumbai with AQI dropping to 119; rising temperatures turn up the heat!

Mumbai's air quality saw a noticeable boost on Thursday, owing to changing weather patterns and a temporary suspension of construction activities. The Air Quality Index (AQI) dropped to 119 from 126, with 17 of 30 monitoring stations reporting 'moderate' air quality and six recording 'satisfactory' levels.

Byculla and Borivali East, previously marked 'poor,' improved to 'moderate' after the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) imposed stop-work orders in these areas.

The shift in weather brought easterly winds, replacing the usual westerlies from the Arabian Sea, effectively dispersing suspended dust particles and clearing the haze. Santacruz, however, recorded a sweltering 34.8°C, 4°C above the average for this time of year.

According to the IMD, Mumbai can expect warmer days ahead, with daytime highs touching 36°C before a western disturbance ushers in cooler nights, starting tomorrow.