4 areas with poor air; wind will clear fog in 2 days: IMD

Mumbai: Four areas in the city fell in the ‘poor’ air zone on Friday, while Mumbai recorded an average air quality index (AQI) of 151, indicating ‘unsatisfactory’ levels of pollution, as was recorded in recent days.
Borivli East recorded an AQI of 201, Malad West 258, Mazgaon 206 and Navy Nagar in Colaba 257. When readings fall within 201-300 (poor air), people with heart/lung disease, older adults and children should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion. BKC, T2 airport, Deonar, Siddharth Nagar in Worli and Sion fell in the ‘unsatisfactory’ zone of 151-200 AQI.
Visibility in the city has reduced to its lowest this winter since Wednesday owing to moisture-heavy winds from Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal colliding over Maharashtra; it was 1km on Friday afternoon. Sunil Kamble, head of Regional Meteorological Centre, IMD, Mumbai, said the speed of the westerly winds is likely to pick up two days later, which will clear the fog to an extent. —Chittaranjan Tembhekar