City records its worst air quality of 2025; PM2.5 levels shoot past 300 in parts of Malad and Deonar
A hazy sky in Mumbai on Tuesday. Pic/Ashish Raje
October has recorded Mumbai’s worst air quality of 2025 so far, with 19 monitoring locations across the city logging their highest daily average PM2.5 levels, according to a new study by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA). The analysis used data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS).
The city’s dirtiest air days coincided with Diwali celebrations between October 19 and 21, when firecracker use and stagnant weather combined to push pollution to alarming levels. The worst-hit areas were BKC, Powai, Mulund, and Ghatkopar, where PM2.5 concentrations exceeded 200 µg/m³, while Deonar and Malad breached 300 µg/m³.
PM2.5 refers to fine particulate matter small enough to enter the lungs and bloodstream, posing severe health risks, especially for children, the elderly, and those with heart or lung conditions. PM10 particles, typically generated from construction, road dust, and industrial emissions, can irritate the eyes, throat, and lungs, worsening asthma and respiratory problems.
According to SAFAR, Mumbai’s Air Quality Index (AQI) on Thursday ranged between 150 and 160, placing it in the ‘Moderate’ category.
Oct 19 to 21
Days city witnessed dirtiest air
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