The air pollution crisis in Delhi drives families, such as Saurabh Bhasin's, to seek refuge in places like Goa, exemplifying a growing exodus of those with the means to escape. However, many residents without such options are left to endure the adverse health effects of the city's toxic air.
Families Seek Refuge from Delhi's Toxic Smog: A Growing Exodus Amid Air Quality Crisis
Families Seek Refuge from Delhi's Toxic Smog: A Growing Exodus Amid Air Quality Crisis
As Delhi's air quality plummets to hazardous levels, families like Saurabh Bhasin's flee to coastal states in search of cleaner air, while millions remain trapped in the smog.
In recent years, Delhi has faced an alarming deterioration of air quality, particularly between October and January, leaving many residents grappling with the dangerous consequences. Saurabh Bhasin, a corporate lawyer, experienced this firsthand when his daughter's asthma diagnosis prompted the family to leave Delhi for the more temperate coastal state of Goa, over 2,000 kilometers away. Bhasin's love for his hometown has been overshadowed by the fear for his child's health in the face of worsening pollution levels.
Since as early as 2015, Bhasin has been an advocate for cleaner air, filing petitions aimed at curbing pollution from firecrackers that contribute to Delhi's already deteriorating air quality. Unfortunately, despite some governmental measures, such as regulating cracker use and restricting construction activities, air quality continues to plummet to hazardous levels that the World Health Organization categorizes as life-threatening, especially for vulnerable populations.
The struggle to maintain a healthy environment is forcing families, like Rekha Mathur's, to make tough decisions about where to live. With a new baby, Mathur spends winters in the quieter outskirts of Dehradun while her husband remains in Delhi for work. Despite wanting to escape the city’s smog, she is unsure how long this arrangement can work as their son grows.
Public discussions and debates about the air quality crisis have been persistent in Delhi, but tangible solutions seem elusive. While the Supreme Court has made efforts over the past four decades to mitigate pollution, many argue that the government must treat this air quality crisis as a public health emergency rather than a seasonal conversation.
Individuals with financial means, like journalist Om Thanvi who moved to Rajasthan, have chosen to leave permanently in search of better air quality, revealing the disparity faced by the majority of residents who cannot afford to escape. Sarita Devi, a garment worker, epitomizes this struggle; despite the hazardous conditions, she must remain in Delhi to make a living.
While families that can relocate are seeking refuge in areas with cleaner air, millions are left to endure the public health crisis generated by longstanding air pollution challenges. As the season of smog returns and discussions about air quality arise anew, the hope for a lasting solution remains a distant goal for many residents left behind.
Since as early as 2015, Bhasin has been an advocate for cleaner air, filing petitions aimed at curbing pollution from firecrackers that contribute to Delhi's already deteriorating air quality. Unfortunately, despite some governmental measures, such as regulating cracker use and restricting construction activities, air quality continues to plummet to hazardous levels that the World Health Organization categorizes as life-threatening, especially for vulnerable populations.
The struggle to maintain a healthy environment is forcing families, like Rekha Mathur's, to make tough decisions about where to live. With a new baby, Mathur spends winters in the quieter outskirts of Dehradun while her husband remains in Delhi for work. Despite wanting to escape the city’s smog, she is unsure how long this arrangement can work as their son grows.
Public discussions and debates about the air quality crisis have been persistent in Delhi, but tangible solutions seem elusive. While the Supreme Court has made efforts over the past four decades to mitigate pollution, many argue that the government must treat this air quality crisis as a public health emergency rather than a seasonal conversation.
Individuals with financial means, like journalist Om Thanvi who moved to Rajasthan, have chosen to leave permanently in search of better air quality, revealing the disparity faced by the majority of residents who cannot afford to escape. Sarita Devi, a garment worker, epitomizes this struggle; despite the hazardous conditions, she must remain in Delhi to make a living.
While families that can relocate are seeking refuge in areas with cleaner air, millions are left to endure the public health crisis generated by longstanding air pollution challenges. As the season of smog returns and discussions about air quality arise anew, the hope for a lasting solution remains a distant goal for many residents left behind.
