Mumbai weather update: City records minimum temp of 17 degrees Celsius, AQI 109; pollution high in BKC at 145

The city and its suburbs will experience mainly clear skies on Tuesday with the India Meteorological Department IMD forecasting maximum and minimum temperatures of around 34 degrees Celsius and 18 degrees Celsius respectivelyThe minimum temperature in Colaba was 217 degrees Celsius with no rainfall recorded 00 mm In Santacruz the minimum temperature was 170 degrees CelsiusHowever air quality remains a concern According to the Sameer app the cityrsquos overall Air Quality Index AQI is 109 falling under the moderate category This level may cause breathing discomfort for people with lung disorders asthma and heart conditionsAQI across key city areasBandra Kurla Complex BKC 145Borivali 82Byculla 136Andheri East 99Chembur 128Colaba 113Deonar 126Ghatkopar 134Kandivali 99Kherwadi Bandra East 144Meanwhile Delhirsquos air quality remained dangerously high on Tuesday with the overall AQI at 378 at 8 am placing the city in the lsquovery poorrsquo category according to the Central Pollution Control Board CPCBThis marks a slight improvement from Monday when the AQI had peaked at 427 in the lsquoseverersquo category Despite the marginal dip large parts of the capital were still shrouded in thick toxic smog reducing visibility and causing discomfort for residents reported news agency ANIProminent areas recorded alarming pollution levels India Gate registered an AQI of 380 and Sarai Kale Khan 359 both in the lsquovery poorrsquo range Ghazipur and Anand Vihar fared worse with AQIs around 410 categorised as lsquoseverersquoAccording to AQI categorisation 050 is good 51100 satisfactory 101200 moderate 201300 poor 301400 very poor and 401500 severeMeanwhile a tourist grappling with Delhi pollution explained his situation saying to ANI The situation here is very serious because of pollution I arrived in Delhi last evening from Indore Compared to Indore I am experiencing difficulty in breathing Visibility here is very poor we cannot see the India Gate properly It is affecting our healthAir quality levels varied across other major Indian cities Ahmedabad recorded an AQI of 117 Bengaluru 104 Chennai 135 Hyderabad 103 and Mumbai 109 mostly in the moderate to satisfactory range Jaipur 187 Lucknow 158 Patna 156 and Pune 194 reported moderate air quality reported ANIMeanwhile the first meeting of the Expert Committee constituted by the Commission for Air Quality Management CAQM for in NCR and adjoining Areas to address air pollution from vehicular emissions was held on Monday under the Chairmanship of Ashok Jhunjhunwala and CoChaired by Prof Randeep GuleriaThe meeting focused on broad discussions on key issues related to vehicular emission sources in DelhiNCR CAQM said in a post on XDeliberations covered assessment of segmentwise vehicular emission contributions exposure risks EV readiness and infrastructure needs CAQM saidAccording to ANI the committee will present concrete actionable recommendations to reduce vehicular emissions at upcoming meetingsThis comes as the national capital battles with severe air pollution with AQI crossing the 450 mark reaching the severe plus category prompting CAQM to impose stage IV restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan GRAPIn view of the severe air pollution levels in the national capital the Delhi Government issued a circular directing schools to shift to online mode from hybrid for students up to class 5 With the Air Quality Index AQI remaining in the severe category the government has directed schools to switch to online mode for these grades until further noticeWith ANI inputs