Lucknow Air Pollution: City Breaks 5-Year Record With 'Severe' Diwali AQI

During the festival of Diwali, air pollution levels in Lucknow reached a hazardous state. On Monday and Tuesday night, the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) was recorded at 419, the highest level for a Diwali in the last five years.

While higher pollution levels have been recorded on other occasions during the winter season, this reading is the highest for the festival period. An AQI of 419 falls into the 'severe' category, indicating serious health risks.

Causes: Fireworks, Emissions And Weather

Enthusiasm for Diwali was evident across Lucknow, with residents reportedly buying firecrackers worth more than Rs 300 million. According to environmental experts, the concentration of fine particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) in the air increased several-fold on Diwali night due to fireworks and rising vehicle emissions.

Meteorological conditions worsened the situation. According to the meteorological department:

- The night temperature was 23°C.

- Wind speed was only four km per hour.

- Humidity reached 100 per cent.

Due to these light winds and high humidity, pollutant particles became trapped in the lower layers of the atmosphere, leading to a rapid decline in air quality.

Pollution Data And Daily Trends

The city's PM10 level was recorded at 374, and the PM2.5 level at 284, which is approximately six times higher than the safe limit.

On Monday morning, the AQI stood at 419. It decreased to between 190 and 195 by the afternoon. Despite this improvement, air quality in major areas such as Gomti Nagar, Aliganj, Lalbagh, Charbagh, and Indira Nagar remained in the 'unhealthy' category.

Also Read: Patna Junction Overwhelmed By Chhath Puja Crowd; Passengers Climb Through Windows

Historical Context: A Record-Breaking October

According to experts, this level of air pollution was the highest for the month of October. Even before Diwali, on October 19, the city's AQI was recorded at 173, which was the highest for October in the last five years. For comparison, the AQI in previous years (on that date or as a similar October high) was 177 in 2021, 186 in 2022, 152 in 2023, and 130 in 2024.

Also Read: Bihar Elections 2025: Educational Qualifications Of The Key Contestants Of Bihar

Health Advisory

Doctors advise that continuously breathing such poor-quality air can lead to several serious illnesses. The public is advised to stay away from smoke and dust and, if possible, use a mask when going outside.