In a troubling scene that has become all too familiar, Delhi has once again plunged into a grim spectacle of air pollution, with the air quality index peaking at an astonishing 1,785 before a slight improvement brought it down to 485. This annual nightmare compounds the health hazards faced by citizens as they breathe in hazardous air, further exacerbated as winter descends upon the region.
Local auto-rickshaw driver Vikram Singh articulates the struggle many face, grappling with chest discomfort and fatigue as his income dwindles during peak pollution days. “I don’t know what else is happening to my body,” Singh lamented, reflecting on the broader health implications for economic stability among the working class.
In response to the worsening crisis, chief minister Atishi labeled the situation a “medical emergency,” particularly threatening the vulnerable populations, including children and the elderly. The Supreme Court’s intervention resulted in immediate actions, such as halting construction and restricting vehicular traffic. As schools closed indefinitely, the similarities to the Covid-19 lockdown set off a wave of nostalgia for some—albeit with a harsh twist of reality.
While some residents can adapt with work-from-home arrangements and protective gear, many others are left to navigate the polluted air with little to no means of protection. Debu Jyoti Dey, working in the development sector, could only manage a makeshift mask as he moved through the city. For many, the fight against pollution finds them in a relentless tug-of-war, battling a government seemingly at odds with effective solutions and a reality that imposes dire health consequences.
