Mumbai: Diwali Firecrackers Trigger Pollution Spike, AQI Crosses 400 in Several Areas
Mumbai, 9th November 2026: Air pollution levels in Mumbai witnessed a sharp spike following Diwali celebrations, with several areas recording an Air Quality Index (AQI) above 400 during the intervening night of Sunday and Monday. Thick haze enveloped parts of the city as firecracker emissions contributed to deteriorating air quality.
According to monitoring station data, Navy Nagar recorded the highest AQI of 497 at around 2 am on Monday. Several other locations, including Sewri, Ghatkopar, Chembur, Shivaji Nagar and Chakala, also reported severe pollution levels during the night.
The city’s overall AQI stood at 171 on Monday morning, placing it in the moderate category. However, the citywide average masked significantly higher pollution levels at several monitoring locations. This was considerably higher than the 24-hour average AQI of 132 recorded on Sunday evening.
At the BKC-IITM monitoring station, the AQI rose from 206 at 10 pm on Sunday to between 344 and 360 during the late-night hours. Chembur recorded an AQI of 401 overnight, while Shivaji Nagar witnessed a spike to 444 at around 11 pm.
Sewri’s AQI climbed to 452 by midnight, while Ghatkopar recorded 421 at around 1 am. At Chakala, the reading reached 408 at 2 am. Byculla also witnessed elevated pollution levels, with readings fluctuating between 300 and 450 from 10 pm to 2 am.
By Monday morning, pollution levels had declined at several monitoring stations. However, the impact of the overnight spike remained evident across the city.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), AQI readings between 0 and 50 are classified as good, 51 and 100 as satisfactory, 101 and 200 as moderate, 201 and 300 as poor, 301 and 400 as very poor, and 401 and 500 as severe.
Of Mumbai’s 25 air quality monitoring stations, nine recorded poor air quality on Monday morning, 12 were in the moderate category, three recorded satisfactory air quality, while Borivali East was the only station reporting good air quality.
The sharp deterioration in air quality following Diwali celebrations has raised concerns over the impact of firecracker emissions on urban air pollution and public health.
