India, Oct. 24 -- Residents of Gautam Budh Nagar breathed slightly easier - at least in relative terms - on Thursday as air quality index in the region improved from "very poor" to "poor" for the first time in three days, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

According to data, Noida recorded an air quality index (AQI) of 276 in the "poor" zone, compared to 330 on Wednesday when it was "very poor", while Greater Noida's AQI fell to 280 ("poor") from 308 ("very poor") a day earlier.

Experts attributed the improvement to a change in wind movement and reduced post-festive emissions, but said that the reprieve might be short-lived as weather may not remain favourable for dispersion of pollutants through the weekend.

"The...