Lucknow joins Delhi in the race to breathe less! AQI hits new lows as weather turns cold

Lucknow’s weather is keeping everyone on their toes, sunny by day, but once the sun sets, a cold breeze sweeps in, and you can feel the chill right to your bones.

The formation of a low-pressure zone has contributed to this weather shift, causing pollutants to stagnate near the surface instead of dispersing. As a result, the city’s air is growing increasingly heavy with smog.

Despite the mild sunshine, the air quality remains a serious concern, with the overall AQI hovering around 194, categorised as ‘moderate to poor.’

Areas such as Lalbagh and Talkatora are faring worse, with AQI levels crossing the 200 mark, tipping into the ‘poor’ category and posing health risks, especially for sensitive groups.

After Diwali, the capital's air quality took a serious hit. The celebration's aftereffects led to an alarming spike in the Air Quality Index (AQI). Immediately post-Diwali, the AQI crossed 350, falling into the "Very Poor" category, with some areas, like Gomti Nagar and Hazratganj, reporting levels as high as 374.

This marked the worst air quality Lucknow has faced in five years, rivalling pollution levels seen in major cities like Delhi. PM10 and PM2.5 levels were recorded at nearly six times the normal limit, significantly affecting visibility and public health, especially in congested areas like Gomti Nagar, Alambagh, and Chowk.

A brief spell of rainfall, post-Diwali did offer some relief, improving air quality for a couple of days.

As of now, anti-smogging efforts are underway in a few areas of the city which could only offer a temporary respite. Thus, experts continue to advise those with respiratory conditions to stay indoors, especially in high-pollution areas.