Delhi's toxic air has reached crisis levels, prompting hundreds to take to the streets in a rare and powerful protest against the city's suffocating pollution.
Mothers, children, students, retirees, and environmentalists all gathered at India Gate on Sunday, united by their desperate demand for clean air. "This is not a liveable city anymore," said Radhika Aggarwal, 33, an engineer who joined the protest. "I'm breathing in air that I know is killing me."
For over a decade, Delhi has held the dubious title of world's most polluted city, with pollution season becoming as normalised as the monsoon. The air quality index has soared to hundreds of times higher than safe levels, and residents are describing the city as akin to a gas chamber.
Pollution now kills more people in Delhi than obesity or diabetes. Yet state and national government policies to tackle the root causes remain largely absent. Instead, those who can afford it seal themselves indoors with expensive air purifiers or escape to other states, making clean air a luxury only affordable by a select few.
On Sunday, protesters were met with police aggression, with officers detaining almost 100 people at police stations until late into the night. The organisers face a police case for their role in the protest.
The causes of Delhi's pollution are well-documented: tens of millions of cars emitting emissions, fires set by farmers, waste burning plants, coal-fired power plants, and smaller fires by individuals to keep warm. However, state and national government policies to address these root causes remain largely absent.
The BJP government in Delhi has been accused of attempting to fudge pollution data and has launched a failed cloud seeding experiment to bring down pollution levels. Residents are at their wit's end: "I can't breathe in this city any more," said Sofie, 33. "It feels like there aren't enough masks in the world to make this air breathable."
As the protesters dispersed, the city was shrouded in opaque brown smog, with the AQI touching 500 – far beyond the healthy level of 50. The government's inaction has sparked anger and frustration among residents: "Any other city breathing this air would have declared a health emergency by now," said Gopesh Singh, 58. "How many more millions of people have to die for the government to act?"
Mothers, children, students, retirees, and environmentalists all gathered at India Gate on Sunday, united by their desperate demand for clean air. "This is not a liveable city anymore," said Radhika Aggarwal, 33, an engineer who joined the protest. "I'm breathing in air that I know is killing me."
For over a decade, Delhi has held the dubious title of world's most polluted city, with pollution season becoming as normalised as the monsoon. The air quality index has soared to hundreds of times higher than safe levels, and residents are describing the city as akin to a gas chamber.
Pollution now kills more people in Delhi than obesity or diabetes. Yet state and national government policies to tackle the root causes remain largely absent. Instead, those who can afford it seal themselves indoors with expensive air purifiers or escape to other states, making clean air a luxury only affordable by a select few.
On Sunday, protesters were met with police aggression, with officers detaining almost 100 people at police stations until late into the night. The organisers face a police case for their role in the protest.
The causes of Delhi's pollution are well-documented: tens of millions of cars emitting emissions, fires set by farmers, waste burning plants, coal-fired power plants, and smaller fires by individuals to keep warm. However, state and national government policies to address these root causes remain largely absent.
The BJP government in Delhi has been accused of attempting to fudge pollution data and has launched a failed cloud seeding experiment to bring down pollution levels. Residents are at their wit's end: "I can't breathe in this city any more," said Sofie, 33. "It feels like there aren't enough masks in the world to make this air breathable."
As the protesters dispersed, the city was shrouded in opaque brown smog, with the AQI touching 500 – far beyond the healthy level of 50. The government's inaction has sparked anger and frustration among residents: "Any other city breathing this air would have declared a health emergency by now," said Gopesh Singh, 58. "How many more millions of people have to die for the government to act?"
. It's like they're playing a deadly game of roulette and we're all just waiting to get blown away by the emissions 
. What's even more infuriating is that the gov't is more concerned about fudging data than actually doing something about it 
. Like, what's the point of having an AQI if you're not gonna take action? It's time for them to put their money where their mouth is and invest in real solutions, like public transport, electric vehicles, and sustainable energy sources 
. And can we please just get rid of these stupid air purifiers that are just making a quick buck off desperate people? 
We need clean air, not a bunch of fancy gadgets that's gonna break the bank 
. I'm all for peaceful protest, but when is enough, enough?! 
it's like they're not even trying anymore. every single day is a nightmare for ppl living there with this toxic air 
what's the point of having policies if u dont enforce them?? 
u gotta see what's happenin in delhi rn!!! they're literally protesting 2 death over toxic air 
and it's not just like, "oh no we need clean air" but it's like ppl are DYING 
it's all about the benjamins... only those who can afford expensive air purifiers or move out can live comfortably 
meanwhile, everyone else is just trying 2 survive in a gas chamber 
and now they're gonna face charges for this protest 
anyone else think we should be livin in a world w/ clean air? 
delhi's pollution is literally killing ppl and yet no one's doing anything about it 
we need some serious change ASAP 
like, how many more ppl have to die before the gov't takes action? 
and btw who needs a mask when u can just use an air purifier that actually works 
pollution is literally killin people more than obesity or diabetes lol how can they not do somethin about it? they got all these fancy air purifiers but thats just for the rich ppl who can afford them poor people gotta stay indoors or die outside 
and whats with the police aggression?! detaining ppl till late at night is crazy 
what's goin on in that city??