Mumbai’s air quality has shown marked improvement, while residents brace for continued discomfort from rising heat and humidity on March 15.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a ‘hot and humid’ alert for the city, forecasting daytime temperatures to climb between 23°C and 35°C. This combination of elevated heat and high moisture levels is expected to heighten discomfort, particularly in the afternoon. Authorities have advised the public to limit direct sun exposure during peak hours, stay adequately hydrated, and opt for lighter meals to manage the conditions effectively.
Mumbai residents greeted Sunday morning with clear skies and noticeably warmer weather, extending the ongoing spell of above-normal temperatures this month.
On the pollution front, the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) has dropped to 49—entering the ‘Good’ category—according to data from AQI.in. This represents a substantial improvement over the previous day, when levels peaked at 67 around 12:30 am before declining steadily. By 8:00 am on March 15, the AQI had settled at 49, reflecting cleaner air across much of the metropolis.
Several monitoring stations reported exceptionally low readings in the ‘Good’ range, including Green Hills and Shiv Sagar Estate at 13, Sathathharatha Nagara at 15, Gamdevi Station 1 at 17, and Breach Candy at 18—among the cleanest recorded in recent months.
However, air quality remains uneven in certain pockets. Rajiv Gandhi Nagar posted a concerning AQI of 317, classified as ‘severe,’ while Louis Wadi recorded 243 (‘unhealthy’). Areas such as Reserve Bank of India Staff Headquarters Station 2 and Subhash Nagar both showed 143 (‘poor’), with Shell Colony at 110, also in the ‘poor’ bracket.
Standard AQI classifications indicate 0–50 as ‘good,’ 51–100 as ‘moderate,’ 101–200 as ‘poor,’ 201–300 as ‘unhealthy,’ and above 300 as ‘severe’ or ‘hazardous.’
The IMD’s alert underscores the persistent warm and muggy pattern affecting Mumbai, urging caution amid the improving yet variable air quality landscape.
