New Delhi, India’s capital, is currently enveloped in a deadly smog, causing severe health issues for its residents. Shahbaz and Gola Noor, a couple in their 40s, work tirelessly collecting waste amidst hazardous air quality levels, leading to coughing and respiratory problems. The air pollution crisis in Delhi is not new, with authorities declaring it a “medical emergency” due to dangerous levels of PM2.5 particles that can cause deadly diseases.
The impact of the smog is felt disproportionately by poorer households like Shahbaz and Gola Noor’s, who bear the brunt of pollution caused by others. Research shows that India faces nearly 2.18 million deaths annually due to air pollution, with northern India residents expected to lose 7.6 years of their lives on average. The government’s measures to combat pollution are seen as temporary fixes that do not address the root causes of the issue.
Environmentalists like Bhavreen Khandari emphasize the devastating impact on children, who now associate winters with sickness instead of festivities. The lack of political will and structural overhaul to address the crisis is a point of frustration for activists advocating for cleaner air.
Meanwhile, Sheikh Ali, a rickshaw puller, dreams of leaving Delhi for his village due to the worsening pollution and health issues affecting his family. As the city grapples with the toxic smog crisis, residents like Ali agonize over the inability to escape the environmental disaster in India’s most polluted city.
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