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Lucknow Sees Air Quality Improvement, But Pollution Persists Across Uttar Pradesh
22 Oct
Summary
- Lucknow's air quality improved to "Moderate" level by October 23, 2025
- Enforcement of firecracker ban, pre-festival rainfall, and favorable winds cited as factors
- Most major cities in Uttar Pradesh still reported "unbreathable" air, though better than 2024
In the aftermath of Diwali celebrations on October 21, 2025, the air quality in Lucknow, the capital of Uttar Pradesh, showed steady improvement over the following week. By October 23, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) had eased from a "Poor" reading of 250 on the day after Diwali to a "Moderate" level.
Experts attributed this improvement in Lucknow, as well as in some other parts of the state, to a combination of factors. These included better enforcement of the ban on firecrackers, pre-festival rainfall, and favorable wind conditions. However, the situation across Uttar Pradesh remained concerning, with most of the 12 major cities in the state still reporting "unbreathable" air, though with marginally better conditions than the previous year.
Officials from the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board called the trend "encouraging but fragile," warning that pollution levels remained above safe limits and that the upcoming winter inversion could further worsen the situation. Experts urged sustained monitoring, stricter vehicular emission checks, and continued public cooperation to prevent air quality from deteriorating again.
