The morning after Diwali looked nothing like a celebration. A thick haze hung over Mumbai, blurring its skyline and stinging the eyes. The festival of lights left behind a blanket of smoke that pushed the city’s air quality into the ‘severe’ zone overnight.
According to AQI.in, the Bandra Kurla Complex recorded an AQI of 261, while Babasaheb Ambedkar Nagar touched 213 and Chakala (Andheri East) stood at 194. Even residential areas such as Borivali West (188) and Bhoiwada (191) were badly hit. As per the visuals shared by PTI, Haji Ali Dargah shows a hazy sky with a thin layer of smog reducing visibility across the city.
Real-time data from IQAir showed Mumbai’s citywide average AQI hovering at 174, placing it in the “unhealthy” category. PM2.5 levels were nearly six times higher than the World Health Organization’s safe limit.
Experts said low wind speeds and high humidity trapped pollutants near the ground. The air was heavy, the smell of burnt crackers lingering long after the festivities ended.
Environmental campaigner Sumaira Abdulali from the Awaaz Foundation said, “The contrast is stark this year — clean skies before Diwali and thick smoke after. The pollutants we’re inhaling are the same ones that harm lungs and hearts. Firecrackers may last minutes, but their effects stay much longer.”
Health alerts and calls for reform
Doctors have urged citizens especially children, the elderly and those with breathing problems to limit outdoor activity, wear N95 masks, keep the windows closed during peak pollution hours, include foods rich in Vitamin C, stay hydrated and use air purifiers indoors.
While Mumbai rains will provide relief from dust and heat temporarily, the post-Diwali haze and smog have now become an annual ritual that health experts say will only worsen unless fireworks are tightly regulated and cleaner celebrations are encouraged.
