A day after Diwali celebrations, several cities in Uttar Pradesh such as Lucknow, Gorakhpur and Kanpur saw a sharp spike in the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels. Ghaziabad, Noida and Meerut, meanwhile, continued to report a higher AQI.

According to the 24-hour daily report by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Lucknow ’s Air Quality Index (AQI) rose from 144 — considered ‘moderate’ — in the 4 pm report released on October 20 to 250 — ‘poor’ — in the 4 pm report on October 21, following Diwali.

Gorakhpur reported a sudden deterioration in the air quality — from an AQI of 127 on October 20 to an AQI of 280 on October 21.

While neighbouring Kanpur also witnessed a dip in air quality from 194 to 229, cities that were in red included Ghaziabad, Noida and Hapur.

Ghaziabad witnessed

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