In the wake of deteriorating air quality, Mumbai has taken significant steps to combat air pollution. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 131 on Thursday morning, falling within the ‘moderate’ category. This marked an improvement, compared to the air quality in the city in the last few days.

Notably, pollution hotspots like Bandra Kurla Complex, Kherwadi and Malad displayed relatively better AQI levels, a positive shift attributed to recent measures taken by the authorities.

On Wednesday evening, the city experienced a thunderstorm in south Mumbai, accompanied by 13mm of rainfall until 5:30 pm. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the westerly winds accompanying the storm led to a decrease in the AQI while maintaining ‘moderate’ air quality.

“Thunderstorm activity was going to hit Ratnagiri, Raigad and Thane due to an easterly trough, which is why Mumbai got a little thunderstorm activity. Mumbai’s weather will be back to usual while the other areas will continue to face thunderstorms,” Sunil Kamble from IMD was quoted as saying by the Hindustan Times.

However, the pollution levels remain a challenge for the authorities. According to reports, several hospitals in the city have seen a rise in the number of patients with respiratory problems in the last few days.

Meanwhile, Global Hospitals in Central Mumbai’s Parel has set up a dedicated Intensive Respiratory Care Unit, to cater to the rise in patients reporting breathlessness and throat or lung infections. Dr Prashant Borade, Director of the Department of Critical Care at Global Hospitals, expressed concern over the increasing cases of inflammation in the lungs and hyperacute airway diseases, NDTV reported.

The government-run JJ Hospital has inaugurated a 17-bed ward exclusively dedicated to air pollution-related ailments. The ward, operating under the pulmonary medicine department, anticipates a surge in respiratory disorders following Diwali, according to a report by Hindustan Times.

Taking proactive measures, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished nine chimneys associated with gold and silver smelting businesses in the Kalbadevi and Zaveri Bazar areas, Moneycontrol reported. This comes after the closure of 13 unauthorised furnaces in Sakinaka and Andheri East, the report added.

(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)