Mumbai, October 28: While people in several north Indian states continued to reel under 'very poor' air quality, residents in Mumbai breathed the cleanest Diwali air in five years on Sunday, ever since real-time air quality monitoring began in Mumbai. According to a tweet by ANI, the metropolis breathed easy with major pollutants PM 2.5 and PM 10 at 32 and 43 respectively in Haji Ali area, which are in 'good' category, as per Air Quality Index (AQI) data. Meanwhile, the air quality was recorded in 'good' category at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) with major pollutants PM 2.5 at 11 and PM 10 at 24. In Mumbai, Carbon Monoxide and Nitrogen Dioxide were the main pollutants in Bandra-Kurla Complex and Worli respectively, taking the air quality to ‘moderate’ in those locations.

According to reports, researchers have said that the city would witness a mild spike in pollution levels on Monday. According to the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), an AQI of 118 (moderate) has been predicted for Monday, 70 (satisfactory) for Tuesday, and 76 (satisfactory) for Wednesday. Several areas including Colaba, Mazgaon, Andheri, Chembur, Bhandup and Navi Mumbai stayed clean. Delhi Air Quality Deteriorates to 'Very Poor' Category Day After Diwali Celebrations, North India Finds Difficult to Breathe.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, the Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) was the most polluted location on Sunday, with an AQI for PM2.5 at 217 (poor), In Malad area, it was at 120 (moderate), while Worli recorded maximum nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels (125) (moderate) owing to heavy vehicular traffic.

Researchers at SAFAR said the Cyclone Kyarr in the Arabian Sea has helped in keeping the air pollution levels to its lowest for the west coast. The air quality in Mumbai and Pune were the cleanest, while ‘moderate’ pollution was witnessed in Ahmedabad, and ‘very poor’ levels in Delhi during Diwali.

In parts of Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, the pollution levels dipped to 'very poor' category with overall air quality index standing at 306 and 356, respectively due to firecracker emissions, unfavourable weather and a significant spike in stubble burning in neighbouring states.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 28, 2019 09:11 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).