Mumbai’s Air Quality Deteriorates to ‘Unhealthy’ Levels Amid Cooler Temperatures

28th December 2025 at 2:15 PM

1 minute read

Mumbai – Despite pleasant cool weather gripping the city on Sunday, air pollution intensified, pushing the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) to 126 and classifying it as ‘unhealthy’.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported mild conditions, with Santacruz logging a minimum temperature of 17.2 degrees Celsius – 0.2 degrees above normal – and a maximum of 32.7 degrees Celsius, 1.1 degrees below normal. In Colaba, the minimum reached 20.4 degrees Celsius (0.5 degrees above normal), while the high settled at 32.1 degrees Celsius, 1.3 degrees below normal.

Pollution levels rose markedly in the morning, affecting multiple neighbourhoods. The Bandra Kurla Complex bore the brunt with an AQI of 152, followed by Ghatkopar at 144, Deonar at 140, Powai at 132, Kandivali West at 131, and Colaba at 107. This widespread elevation highlighted a citywide issue rather than localised hotspots.

For context, the Central Pollution Control Board noted that Delhi’s air quality remained far worse, registering an overall AQI of 392 in the ‘very poor’ category. There, 19 monitoring stations recorded ‘severe’ pollution, including Anand Vihar at 444, Shadipur at 445, Nehru Nagar at 433, Patparganj at 425, Mundka at 413, and IGI Airport at 320.

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Delhi’s minimum temperature dipped to 6.3 degrees Celsius, 0.5 degrees below average, with humidity at 71 per cent. Clear skies were forecast, along with a maximum around 21 degrees Celsius. Factors like cold temperatures, low winds, and fog were trapping pollutants, exacerbating smog. Authorities have activated Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan, imposing bans on construction and certain industries, alongside measures such as the ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ rule.

In Mumbai, the cooler conditions offered residents some relief from heat, but the deteriorating AQI underscored ongoing challenges in maintaining clean air.