Mumbai wakes to hazy skies and humid air, mercury at 34.4 degrees; Delhi AQI hits 451

Mumbai had hazy skies and humid air on Tuesday, November 3, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said. The city and its suburbs are likely to stay generally cloudy, with a chance of light rain, the department forecast.

The mercury stayed high. According to the recorded observations, the maximum temperature was 34.4 degrees Celsius at both Colaba and Santacruz. The forecast said the maximum would hover around 34 degrees Celsius through the day.

According to the IMD's observations for November 3, the minimum temperature was 26.4 degrees Celsius at Colaba and 23.4 degrees Celsius at Santacruz. No rain was recorded at either observatory during the observation period.

On air quality, Mumbai's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was 78 on Tuesday morning. The figure is based on data provided for the Central Pollution Control Board's SAMEER app. In the national AQI classification, the 51 to 100 band is considered satisfactory and 101 to 200 is moderate.

However, pollution levels were recorded in the moderate range at some stations in the city. The AQI was 127 at Bandra-Kurla Complex. Colaba recorded 88, Deonar 86 and Worli 100. Andheri's figure was 69 and Borivali recorded 66.

Figures varied across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR). Thane's AQI was 75, Navi Mumbai recorded 92 and Kalyan 84.

Meanwhile, ahead of Diwali, air pollution worsened further in the national capital, Delhi. At 8 am on Tuesday, Delhi's overall AQI was 451, meaning the air has reached the "severe" level, and concern is being voiced over the worsening pollution across the city.

According to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data, the AQI was in the severe category at several stations in Delhi, while the air stayed very poor in many other areas. Rohini recorded an AQI of 429, followed by Punjabi Bagh at 424 and Bawana at 408. All three areas fell in the severe category.