Toxic air chokes Mumbai as AQI levels surge

Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has slipped into the severe and even hazardous range, crossing 326 in several pockets. Meteorologists attribute the spike to a mix of local pollution sources, stagnant air, and winter conditions that trap pollutants close to the ground. As a thick smog blanket reduced visibility and left the city under a persistent haze, for the last few days, we spoke to Mumbaikars about the growing crisis.

‘Staying indoors is not a solution’“What 99 percent of people forget is that air pollution is a killer. It kills you from inside and you do not realise it. What you are treating as just ‘cough and cold’ is damaging other organs in your body too,” warns environmentalist Stalin Dayanand.




He stresses that escaping indoors won’t solve the problem. “Staying indoors, being inside closed areas is not a solution. Fight for clean air. We aren't asking to stop construction or development. But there is a method to do it, and that has to be followed. It's not that the US, UK, Europe or China aren’t developed; they simply follow the rules. Pollution is a combination of vehicle emissions, construction, fossil fuels and fugitive dust,” he says, adding that his group’s Public Interest Litigation on pollution is currently before the Bombay High Court.



Bombay High Court orders audit of construction sites

The Bombay High Court emphasised on Friday that although a long-term plan is needed to improve Mumbai’s overall air quality, immediate action may be taken to reduce dust pollution from building sites by strictly enforcing current regulations. An independent five-member committee was established by a Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Shree Chandrashekhar and Justice Gautam Ankhad to examine construction sites and confirm adherence to mitigation rules, following a hearing of several petitions regarding the city’s declining AQI levels. The panel will comprise a public health professional, two representatives from civil society, and one person from each of the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The subject will be heard again on December 15 after the committee submits its findings.

‘One air purifier per acre of redevelopment’

Long-time Pali Hill Residents Association secretary Madhu Poplai says the health toll is visible every day. “Everyone is suffering. Asthma and breathlessness are on the rise because redevelopment is happening erratically. There are no rules and regulations being enforced on developers,” she says. “In Pali, we’ve made two things compulsory under BMC norms: noise barriers and air purifiers with regular watering. One air purifier is compulsory per acre of land being redeveloped. But 90 percent of developers aren’t following this.”

‘Don’t ignore pollution-related symptoms’

Doctors are also seeing a spike in pollution-linked ailments. Dr Priyamvada Shrirang Rane, consulting physician, urges residents not to dismiss symptoms. “If you have prolonged cold and cough, breathlessness, fatigue, exertion, stuffiness in the chest or nose, tightness in the chest, or headaches, you must consult a doctor.”

‘The city needs an upgrade yes, but needs to be done properly’

Environmental activist Subhajit Mukherjee argues that Mumbai is ignoring its most powerful natural defence. “Trees are natural air filters, but in Mumbai, their leaves are coated in dust. These must be cleaned immediately. Sprinkle water on trees and plants near your home. Clean leaves matter more than buying multiple air purifiers,” he says. Planting new trees, he adds, isn’t optional. “According to the IQAir World Air Quality Report 2024, India is home to 94 of the world's top 100 most polluted cities. In the next couple of months, we are planning to plant 100 trees in 100 cities that have over 100 AQI. I am ready to give away tress for free if citizens come forward.”

The environmentalist also points to the unprecedented scale of construction. Subhajit says, “In the history of Mumbai, we’ve never had such sudden, massive construction everywhere. The city needs an upgrade, yes — but rules aren’t being followed strictly. That’s why we are suffering.”


‘AIR POLLUTION CAN CAUSE SERIOUS MEDICAL CONDITIONS’

Stalin Dayanand, environmentalist, says, “There is enough medical research to show that air pollution causes diabetes, blood pressure, and heart attacks. If you are not going to worry about the air you breathe, then you got all your priorities wrong.”



SIMPLE STEPS TO SAFEGUARD YOUR LUNGS

• Don’t dismiss prolonged coughing or congestion as just “seasonal”; early care prevents complications.
• Do not ignore persistent breathing or respiratory symptoms.
• Always wear a mask when stepping outdoors.
• If you have recurrent upper-respiratory infections, masking in public spaces is essential.
• Wipe off dust and keep your home, workplace dust-free
• Make daily exercise and pranayama part of your routine.

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