Mumbai: Mumbai solves all records in terms of the worst air quality on Monday.
Perhaps, for the first time in the last decade, the air quality index (AQI) from the Metropolitan region of Mumbai is ‘severe’ with AQI across even 500 signs, the highest indicator set for 2.5pm (particle material) concentration in the air.
Thanks to the storm from Balochistan, coupled with moisture, local emissions and cold air forced smoke and dust to hang in the air for almost a day.
Scientists have warned people with respiratory problems to avoid activities and remain indoors at least for several days.
Amit KoGAJA, a resident of Bandra said the Kalanagar community reported an increase in patients with respiratory infections and respiratory tract.
Vishal Shinde and Desai Kruttika from Thane and Navi Mumbai also reported a sudden increase in people who complained about respiratory problems in their communities.
However, meteorological experts say air will begin to normalize to the level of ‘moderate’ on Tuesday night because fresh air winds from the across the sea also increase.
The dust storm began in the UAE instead of settling triggers in Afghanistan and Balochistan because of the warmer temperature and reaching the border and west coast of India, especially, the Mumbai region with the speed of affecting air quality, said Gufran Beig, program director for Safar that monitors every air quality o’clock.
Air quality like that, said experts, never recorded in Mumbai except for events in 2012 and 2016 when passing 400 marks and then returned quickly.
The official gadget to measure the level of pollution was introduced by government institutions in 2015 and therefore there were no concrete records available for 2012 and even 2016 as AQI monitoring is not a well-established system.
In 2012 also a storm from all Rajasthan was reportedly responsible for dust pollution in Mumbai.
2.5 PM shows more carcinogenic particles in the air that can be exhaled easily and can ultimately damage the respiratory organs especially in those whose immunity is low or has respiratory or related diseases.
At intensity such as 500 AQI, even the health of normal people is affected.
Fortunately the omicron waves recede in Mumbai but worse quality Monday can trigger cases, experts say in the health sector.
While Colaba and Mazgaon showed the worst AQI with more than 520 PM2.5 Mark concentration, the Safar monitor suggested AQI in Chembur, Bandup, Malad, Andheri and Borivali at 500.
“Dust Storm has reduced air quality in Gujarat and Maharashtra from Sunday Noon And so on.
AQI from Mumbai has significantly degraded to ‘severe’ and the possibility of increasing to ‘severe lower ends’ because the upper wind is expected to blow from the northeast which minimizes the intrusion of dust for the next 2 days, “Safar Bulletin said.
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On Monday Aqi Pune showed the quality of ‘very por’ air on Monday and it would likely increase but it might remain in ‘very poor’ for the next 2 days.
Ahmedabad also reported very poor air quality.
Air quality is likely to increase gradually from January 27 and so on at all of these locations because the influence of dust storms will gradually subside and local ventilation to pollutants to porridge will increase, the bulletin shows.