Mumbai: Mumbai woke to a crisp, pleasant Thursday morning marked by clear blue skies, cool winds and a gentle winter nip. However, a thick blanket of smog clung to the city, reducing visibility and signalling a sharp rise in pollution levels. Despite the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecasting clear skies and temperatures between 19°C and 34°C, the deteriorating air quality overshadowed the otherwise ideal winter conditions.

The spike in pollution comes amid Mumbai’s ongoing construction boom. Dust from private real estate projects and large-scale government works, metro corridors, bridges and road-widening projects continues to fuel high concentrations of suspended particulate matter. As infrastructure deadlines accelerate, so has the struggle to keep the city’s air breathable.

By today morning, AQI.in recorded Mumbai’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 258, placing it firmly in the ‘unhealthy’ category. The jump was major compared to the more manageable levels observed earlier last month. Residents across several areas reported the familiar effects of elevated PM2.5 exposure: burning eyes, throat irritation, headaches and a distinct, acrid smell in the air. From high vantage points, the city’s skyline looked washed out and distant, mirroring the widespread impact of the pollution surge.

Several pockets emerged as pollution hotspots. Wadala Truck Terminal led with a startling AQI of 376, classified as severe. Chembur followed at 328 and Deonar at 315, continuing their trend of high industrial emissions. Business districts such as BKC (302) and coastal areas like Colaba (300) also hovered near severe levels, reflecting the combined impact of traffic congestion, commercial activity and coastal humidity trapping pollutants.

Even suburban areas, though relatively better, remained affected. Charkop recorded an AQI of 107 and Govandi 183, both in the poor range. Other zones such as Bhandup West (217), Parel–Bhoiwada (230) and Malad West (233) stayed firmly in the unhealthy bracket. While the severity varied across areas, a greyish haze persisted across most of Mumbai, making the pollution problem unmistakably citywide.

For context, AQI between 0–50 is considered Good, 51–100 Moderate, 101–150 Poor, 151–200 Unhealthy, and anything above 200 falls into the Hazardous zone. With multiple localities crossing into severe levels, Mumbai’s air quality crisis continues to overshadow the season’s pleasant chill, leaving residents concerned about the long winter ahead.

Kalyan: In a shocking incident, a 26-year-old woman from Ulhasnagar was allegedly harassed in the Divyang coach of a Mumbai local train on December 2. The incident occurred on Tuesday, December 2, at around 8.15 pm.

In the video shared by, while returning from work in Thane, she boarded the Central Railways Thane-Kalyan train. After the train crossed Dombivali, the woman argued with the accused, identified as Anup Surendra Singh, and Abhilasha Arjun Nayar regarding the Divyang pass. The woman alleged that after she had a heated argument, the two accused caught her hand and even eve-teased her.

When they got down at Ulhasnagar station, all three, along with another eyewitness, had a huge argument at the station. Railway Police soon reached the platform, where several women intervened and confronted the officers about the incident. The police then later moved the accused to the Kalyan Railway Police Station, and based on the woman’s complaint, a case was registered under Section 74 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Both the accused have been arrested.

Meanwhile, last month, a 25-year-old transgender person was arrested by the Vashi Government Railway Police (GRP) for allegedly molesting a 28-year-old woman aboard a Panvel to CSMT local train on 2 November. The incident occurred around 12.10 pm when the train was nearing Nerul station. The accused, when he boarded the general compartment of the harbour line train, was seeking alms from passengers. When the train crossed Seawoods station, an argument broke out between the accused and a male passenger who refused to give money.

The man, accompanied by a female friend, asked the accused to move ahead, leading to a heated verbal exchange. During the confrontation, the accused allegedly abused the man and touched the woman on her shoulder, which made her uncomfortable. A complaint was filed and the accused was taken into custody by the Vashi GRP.

New Delhi, Dec 3: Reflecting India’s growing role in global AI discussions, the country will host the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 here from February 16–20, the government said on Wednesday.

For the first time, the global AI summit series will take place in the Global South and the shift signals a broader move toward a more inclusive global AI dialogue, said Union Minister of State for Electronics and IT, Jitin Prasada, in Lok Sabha.

“In line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision, the government is democratising the development and usage of technology. The focus is using Artificial Intelligence (AI) for solving real-world problems and ultimately improving lives across various sectors,” said the minister.

In this regard, the government has taken an inclusive and innovation-friendly approach to AI governance. India’s AI strategy has been formed after studying legal frameworks around the world and extensive consultation with stakeholders. A key pillar of India’s AI strategy is its balanced and pragmatic techno-legal approach to regulation.

The summit reflects India’s growing role in global AI discussions. It follows the UK AI Safety Summit, AI Seoul Summit, Paris AI Action Summit (which India co-chaired), and the Global AI Summit on Africa.

This demonstrates that the Summit is situated within a broader global discourse and seeks to contribute to harmonised international cooperation on responsible AI development, said the minister.

The thematic priorities of the Summit, referred to as the seven ‘Chakras’, underline its key objectives. These include Human Capital, Inclusion, Safe and Trusted AI, Resilience, Innovation and Efficiency, Democratizing AI Resources, and AI for Economic Development and Social Good.

These thematic areas encompass issues such as AI safety, data governance, transparency, human-centred development and accountability frameworks. These discussions are aligned to drive the strategic direction of the Summit’s events and deliberations.

The Summit is intended to generate actionable recommendations that contribute to long-term AI governance objectives rather than framing immediate binding regulations.