Mumbai weather updates: City records 14 degrees Celsius, AQI stands at 114

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Mumbai began Saturday on a refreshingly cool note, with clear skies, gentle winter breezes and lower humidity providing residents a brief respite from the city's usual heat. However, the relief did not last long as a visible layer of smog gradually enveloped the skyline, reducing visibility and once again highlighting the city's growing air pollution concerns.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had predicted generally pleasant conditions for the financial capital, with daytime temperatures expected to range between 14 degrees Celsius and 33 degrees Celsius. While the weather remained comfortable through the day, worsening air quality quickly became the dominant concern, overshadowing the favourable morning conditions.

The minimum temperature was recorded at 14.6 degrees Celsius in Santacruz, while Colaba registered a low of 20.1 degrees Celsius.

Mumbai's overall Air Quality Index (AQI) was at 114 in the early hours, placing it in the ‘moderate' category.

AQI levels across Mumbai:

Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC): 175

Borivali East: 104

Andheri East: 117

Chembur: 139

Deonar: 148

Ghatkopar: 158

Kandivali West: 130

Kherwadi, Bandra East: 132

Delhi weather updates: Thick smog engulfs Delhi as air quality turns 'severe' at 429

The national capital woke up to a thick layer of toxic smog on Saturday morning, significantly impairing visibility and affecting residents. The overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reading stood at 380 at around 7 am, falling into the 'very poor' category, according to Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). However, the air quality spiked to 'severe' levels at certain places.

Several parts of the city continued to witness alarmingly high pollution levels. According CPCB, the AQI figure at Sarai Kale Khan stood at 428, while Akshardham recorded an AQI of 420. Rao Tularam Marg recorded an AQI of 403, and the Barapullah flyover area recorded 380.

Other pollution hotspots included Anand Vihar (428), Ashok Vihar (407), and the ITO area (429), also falling under the 'severe' category across large swathes of the national capital.

In response to the deteriorating air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked all measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-IV across Delhi-NCR. The restrictions under GRAP-IV include a ban on non-essential construction activities, entry of certain diesel vehicles, and enhanced enforcement to curb pollution sources.