India, Jan. 24 -- The Air Quality Index (AQI) in the city rose to 104 - according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) - on Thursday, indicating the air was unhealthy for sensitive groups, after hovering at 80-90 in the moderate category for several days. A thick layer of smog engulfed large parts of the city till the afternoon, and doctors reported a surge in complaints about respiratory illness.

Data from CPCB showed multiple pollution hotspots across the city, while many air quality monitoring stations were non-functional for several hours, leading to serious underreporting of AQI levels.

The AQI in Navy Nagar in south Mumbai was 145, Deonar was 136, Ghatkopar was 131, Shivajinagar was 123, Kurla was 122, and Mulund West was...