A Mumbai executive has voiced alarm over the city's worsening air pollution, claiming it has left his entire office stricken with illnesses like fever, sore throats, and allergies, as hazardous smog blankets the coastal metropolis and pushes the Air Quality Index (AQI) into severe levels.

Arindam Paul, Chief Business Officer at Atomberg Technologies, shared his concerns on X, posting a video of thick haze reducing visibility across the skyline and writing, "Almost everyone in the office is down with sore throat/fever/allergy… I understand that this is the price we pay for development and infrastructure, but surely we could find a solution if we wanted to." He expressed disbelief at readings hitting 250-300, noting, "No coastal city should have a 250-300 AQI," and lamented that November to January—once Mumbai's most pleasant months—has become the worst due to the toxic air.

Real-time data corroborated Paul's observations, with Mumbai's overall AQI climbing to 221 (severe) early Wednesday, driven by PM2.5 levels at 145 µg/m³ and PM10 at 189 µg/m³—far exceeding safe limits of 60 and 100 µg/m³, respectively. Pockets like Borivali (216, poor), Chakala (260, very poor), and Malad (258, very poor) fared worse, while the India Meteorological Department reported visibility dropping to 2.1 km amid 79% humidity and stagnant winds trapping pollutants near the ground. Experts attribute the spike to vehicular emissions, construction dust, industrial activity, and seasonal factors like crop burning in neighboring states, despite a 12% improvement in average AQI over the past five years.

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Paul's post has resonated widely, echoing sentiments from residents including Ritika Sajdeh, wife of cricketer Rohit Sharma, who shared AQI screenshots of 227 (severe) and 257, captioning one with a broken-heart emoji and "What is happening?" Health officials warn of heightened risks for respiratory issues and allergies, advising masks, limited outdoor exposure, and air purifiers, as the BMC issues notices to polluting construction sites. With forecasts predicting sustained poor-to-severe conditions through late November, calls for urgent interventions—like stricter emission norms and green infrastructure—grow louder in India's financial capital.

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