Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 03:19am on 18 Dec 2025,Thursday Weather & Environment
The fourth India vs South Africa T20 International in Lucknow was abandoned without a ball bowled due to thick smog and extremely poor visibility at Ekana Stadium, triggering criticism of scheduling matches in northern cities during peak winter pollution. Air Quality Index (AQI) levels soared in the hazardous range, making play unsafe and leading to six inspections before officials called off the game. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav claimed Delhi’s pollution had spread to Lucknow, calling it smog, not fog, and questioned state policies on air quality. The incident sparked broader debate on environmental planning for major events. (PC: HT)
