Mumbai's polluted air leaves traffic police with breathing trouble after long hours on roads

Mumbai is in the grip of pollution, and the worst affected are the traffic police personnel who manage traffic on the roads for eight to ten hours every day. Most of the personnel who control traffic on the streets appear to be suffering from some form of respiratory ailment.

These personnel face more than dust and harsh sunlight. They also have to contend every day with the carbon dioxide emitted by lakhs of vehicles. Traffic personnel posted in the MIDC area and wherever projects are under way are said to be in a worse condition.

At the end of October, Mumbai overtook Delhi, which is counted among the country's most polluted cities. The month has changed, but conditions have not improved. For the past few days the weather has been one of bright sun in the daytime and some chill at night, which is affecting people across the city. Traffic police are the most affected.

When traffic personnel in different parts of the city were spoken to, they said colds and coughs had become common. Beyond that, chest pain, a sore nose and throat, and a cough that does not stop for days have left them in distress. However, this was said only by some of the traffic personnel. Reports about Mumbai's poor air are coming in, and warnings and articles by experts are also appearing on social media.

This October, Mumbai's air pollution crossed the danger level. On most days of the month, Mumbai was ahead of Delhi in pollution. According to an IQAir report, Mumbai was the third most polluted city in the world, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded between 166 and 200.

Mumbai and its suburbs have 102 beat chowkis and more than 3,000 traffic personnel on duty. They handle the traffic of 27 lakh vehicles in the city every day. According to information from sources, there are 129 pollution hotspots in the city, and more than 30 locations have various government projects under way, which is adding considerably to dust pollution.