Mumbai will continue to be covered under smog till Friday, according to SAFAR (System of Air Quality Weather Forecasting and Research).

Bandra recorded the worst Particulate Matter (PM)10 at 405 at 10:30 am, which is ‘severe’ as per the Air Quality Index (AQI) data. AQI of between 201 and 300 is considered poor and AQI between 301 and 400 is considered very poor. Mazgaon recorded 342, Bhandup recorded 327, Borivali recorded 319,  Colaba recorded 320 and Navi Mumbai recorded 309.

Air Quality Index was over 300 at several places. Experts say that people with heart or lung diseases, older adults and children should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion. Pollution levels between 51-100 is considered satisfactory,101-200 is moderate and over 400 is severe. The recorded AQI on Monday was 253, with the marginal rise in pollution levels on Wednesday.

In and around the US Consulate General at BKC in Bandra, AQI of 455 has been recorded by World Air Quality Index team that measures air quality in real time. Researchers term this as hazardous. The overall AQI in Bandra is 253 which the team labelled as unhealthy.

In January, the supreme court, while hearing petitions on curbing pollution, had asked the centre to look into the problem of air pollution across the nation. The court had asked the ministry of environment, forest and climate change on what it has proposed to do on the air pollution issue for the rest of the country.

According to SAFAR, conditions will improve if there will be enough sunshine and heat will reduce moisture and pollution levels.