Mumbai's Air Quality Plummets to Hazardous Levels, Doctors Warn of Respiratory Crisis

Image Source: Internet

Mumbai's air quality has taken a drastic turn for the worse, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching a staggering 104 on Thursday, warning of unhealthy conditions for sensitive groups. The city was shrouded in a thick layer of smog until the afternoon, prompting a surge in respiratory complaints. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported multiple pollution hotspots across the city, while several air quality monitoring stations remained non-functional, leading to underreporting of AQI levels. Experts attribute the sharp fluctuations in air quality to localised atmospheric conditions. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has instructed flying squads to increase monitoring and issue stop-work notices to construction projects that violate pollution norms. Additionally, the BMC has already issued stop-work notices to 106 construction sites for failing to install mandatory air-quality-monitoring systems. According to Dr. Gufran Beig, chair professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS), the latest spike in pollution is due to atmospheric conditions and high humidity. 'When moisture increases, the air becomes heavier and its holding capacity for pollutants increases,' he explained. Doctors have reported a significant increase in respiratory cases, with pulmonologist Dr. Lancelot Pinto noting that the trend has been unfolding over the last few months. 'Several irritants in the air have led to asthma cases surging, and we have had to put patients on steroids,' he said. Consultant physician Dr. Gautam Bhansali added that cases of sore throat and cough have increased after a brief lull last week. 'Some patients had to be admitted due to severe throat problems, and investigations revealed that irritation in the lungs was the cause,' he said. As the city struggles to combat pollution, residents are advised to take precautions to protect their health.