Winter has finally set in over the past week in Lucknow, with maximum temperatures hovering around 26°C and minimums at 11-12°C. However, this seasonal change has been accompanied by a rise in air pollution levels, with continuous haze observed across most parts of the city throughout the day.

To combat the worsening pollution, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) recently undertook several measures. Inspections were carried out in Lalbagh and Talkatora, two industrial areas where pollution levels crossed the 300 AQI mark. Following these inspections, two factories in Talkatora were shut down to reduce emissions, and anti-smog vehicles were deployed in affected areas.

Despite these efforts, both Lalbagh and Talkatora remain in the 'Very Poor' AQI category, with readings of 324 and 312, respectively. Other areas, such as Aliganj (280), Ambedkar University (234), Gomtinagar (197), and Kukrail (137), also reported concerning pollution levels. Lucknow's overall average AQI stood at 227, highlighting the city's ongoing air quality crisis.