Air Quality Deteriorates in Maharashtra Post-Diwali; Mumbai Drops To 20th In Pollution Ranking

According to air quality data from 31 monitored areas, Dhule in western Maharashtra has emerged as the most polluted city in the state this Diwali.

Although Mumbai often faces criticism for its poor air quality, it ranked 20th this year, with Worli recording a "very unhealthy" air quality level—up by 216.5% from last Diwali.

In the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Ulhasnagar ranked as the 12th most polluted area, followed by Badlapur (13th), Mira-Bhayandar (14th), Bhiwandi (17th), Thane (18th), Virar (19th), and Navi Mumbai (24th). Several parts of Mumbai, however, showed relatively lower PM2.5 levels, with Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (T2) at 24.49 µg/m³, Khindipada (Bhandup West) at 29.80 µg/m³, Colaba at 38.37 µg/m³, Kandivali East at 49.72 µg/m³, and Powai at 52.22 µg/m³.

Mumbai witnessed a 50.3% increase in PM2.5 levels post-Diwali 2024, rising from 57.46 µg/m³ on October 30 to 86.39 µg/m³ on November 1. Malad West reported the city’s highest pollution level at 194.54 µg/m³, followed by Sewri at 184.44 µg/m³. However, Powai and Deonar recorded decreases in PM2.5 levels, with Powai seeing a 44.6% decline and Deonar a moderate 3.8% drop from last year, indicating some isolated improvements amid widespread air quality degradation.

India's National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for PM2.5 is 40 µg/m³, though the World Health Organization recommends an annual safe limit of 5 µg/m³. This year’s Diwali air quality data highlight severe pollution surges, especially in cities like Dhule, Nanded, and Pimpri-Chinchwad, where PM2.5 levels surpass those in major urban centers like Mumbai and Pune.

ClimateTech firm Respirer Living Sciences Pvt. Ltd. tracked PM2.5 levels across Maharashtra, a key indicator of air quality that reflects the concentration of fine particulate matter in the air. Dhule recorded the highest pollution, followed by Nanded (129.90 µg/m³) and Pimpri-Chinchwad (125.62 µg/m³). Ahmednagar (123.73 µg/m³) and Parbhani (122.67 µg/m³) also showed elevated PM2.5 levels. In contrast, Sangli, Kalyan, Solapur, Belapur, and Pune reported some of the lowest pollution levels in the state.

These post-Diwali pollution levels underscore the urgent need for air quality control and public awareness efforts, especially in non-metropolitan areas, said Ronak Sutaria, CEO of Respirer Living Sciences. He emphasized that high PM2.5 levels pose significant health risks, particularly for vulnerable populations, and called for proactive measures to manage air quality during high-emission periods.