LUCKNOW, Dec. 19 -- A debate over air quality data has erupted in Lucknow after Wednesday's India-South Africa T20I at Ekana Stadium was abandoned due to poor visibility caused by fog. On the match day, social media was flooded with screenshots of alarmingly high AQI (Air Quality Index) figures from private apps that sharply differed from official readings. Fans and residents circulating screenshots, claiming Lucknow's AQI had crossed 400, questioned the safety of holding major events in winter, with some even accusing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of poor scheduling. However, the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (UPPCB) and the state government said official data showed the city's AQI at 174, which falls under the moderate category of the National Air Quality Index (NAQI) and called the private data misleading. Authorities also cautioned citizens against "misleading figures" displayed by private applications that rely on uncalibrated sensors or foreign benchmarks such as US-EPA standards. Environmental science experts argue that government-run monitoring stations follow strict technical and maintenance protocols, unlike many privately operated AQI platforms. HT attempted to seek clarity from AQI.in, a portal that ranks among the top Google search results for live AQI data in multiple cities, including Lucknow. The website claims to operate around 13 live stations across different areas of the city, showing readings that vary significantly from the government's Sameer App. HT sent a detailed questionnaire to the portal seeking information on the source, methodology and authenticity of its data after being asked to email the queries. However, no response has been received so far. Officials from UPPCB have stated they are unaware of any independent private air monitoring stations functioning in Lucknow. Regional officer JP Maurya reiterated that the Sameer App, developed by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), compiles data from six calibrated government stations in the city. "The data is live, repeatedly verified and placed in the public domain. It cannot be manipulated," he said, adding that officials had "not seen any such private monitoring stations" responsible for the inflated figures trending online. Experts say the sharp variation in AQI numbers largely stems from differences in methodology. Official NAQI data is based on a scientifically validated 24-hour average of PM2.5 and other pollutants collected from multiple calibrated stations, while some private platforms rely on momentary spikes, satellite models or sensors not aligned with Indian standards - leading to exaggerated or fragmented city-wide readings. "The instruments installed by Pollution Control Boards are highly sophisticated and expensive, with procurement and routine maintenance costs running into several lakhs of rupees," said Dr Shailendra Kumar, assistant professor, department of environmental science, Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow. In an official note, authorities cautioned citizens against relying on data circulated on social media and private platforms. Experts cited in the government note pointed out that many private platforms fail to distinguish between dust particles and smoke, a crucial factor in Indian cities where natural dust levels are relatively high....