MUMBAI:After a period of low pollution levels, the city’s air quality index (AQI) on Sunday saw a spike. But MPCB collected data at only nine locations in October and November, as opposed to 20 normally. Cleanest air was recorded in Nashik, with an AQI of 29 in June 2020.
Mumbai’s overall AQI was 90 on Sunday, as opposed to 55 on the previous day, according to the System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). The AQI has been under 65 since the lockdown began.
SAFAR researchers attribute the spike to a dust storm in the west. “There is a moderate dust storm that started in Afghanistan is moving past Rajasthan and western parts of India, hence the higher concentration of PM10. The pollution levels could further increase over the next two to three days, unless these areas receive rainfall,” said SAFAR director, Gufran Beig. SAFAR has forecast the AQI to increase to 121 on Monday.
