Mumbai recorded its coldest morning of the winter on Tuesday, with minimum temperatures dropping to 17.4°C. But while the city felt the chill, its air quality continued to deteriorate. Mumbai’s AQI touched 170, with pockets such as Deonar, Byculla, Sewri, Chembur and Worli slipping into the higher end of the satisfactory category and even into the poor range. In comparison, during the first week of November, the city’s AQI hovered around 160.

The winter season, known for worsening pollution levels in Mumbai, has now clearly set in. Until Tuesday, the lowest temperature recorded this season was 17.8°C on Sunday, but Tuesday morning surpassed it. Alongside the drop in temperature, pollution levels rose, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board. The major pollutants were PM10, PM2.5 and ozone, driven by vehicular emissions, construction activity and smoke from bakeries.