As temperatures plummet and the air gets dense, air pollution is back on everyone’s mind in India’s two biggest metros. While Delhi is by now used to welcoming the winter with dystopian smoggy scenes, Mumbai is seeing its worst October air in the past few years.
An episode of slow wind conditions in the national capital has triggered a decline in air quality over the past week, while in the financial capital an increase in construction activity has resulted in high PM2.5 levels, making it one of the most polluted months in the city's recent history.
Nevertheless, the forecast looks positive as the air quality for both cities is expected to improve in the coming days. Data on stubble burning—a key reason for north India’s polluted air at this time of the year — also shows improvement from previous years. Mint takes a closer look.