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Residents Rally at India Gate as Toxic Smog Turns Delhi Into a Gas Chamber
New Delhi Fed up with the capital’s choking air, hundreds of citizens on Sunday staged a powerful protest demanding urgent government action to combat Delhi’s worsening pollution. The demonstration, held near India Gate, saw students, parents, and environmental groups unite under a single message “Clean Air Is Our Right.”
The protest came as Delhi’s air quality continued to remain in the “very poor” to “severe” category, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) crossing 380 in several parts of the city. For many residents, this year’s smog feels worse than ever thicker, longer, and deadlier.
We’re Breathing Slow Death, Say Citizens
Wearing masks and holding banners, protesters accused authorities of negligence and demanded accountability from both state and central governments.
“Every year we hear promises, every year we suffer the same suffocating air. How long do we keep living like this?” said a protester, a mother of two schoolchildren who has kept them home for the past week due to poor air.
Doctors across Delhi report a sharp increase in respiratory illness cases, especially among children and the elderly. Hospitals in AIIMS and Safdarjung have recorded up to a 30% surge in asthma and lung infection cases in the last few days.
Schools, Streets, and Lives Affected
The toxic haze has brought Delhi’s daily life to a near standstill. Outdoor activities in schools have been suspended, and visibility has dropped sharply during morning and evening hours. Many offices have reverted to partial work-from-home arrangements as residents struggle with irritation in eyes and throats.
Street vendors and delivery workers, however, have little choice but to continue working outdoors. “We can’t afford masks every day, but we still have to earn,” said a roadside tea seller near Connaught Place. “This air feels heavy like breathing smoke.”
Government Urges Calm, Activists Demand Accountability
Officials from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said that the air quality has shown “slight improvement” due to changing wind direction and lower vehicular load over the weekend. The body has decided not to impose GRAP Stage 3 restrictions yet, which include construction bans and traffic curbs.
However, activists dismissed these claims as temporary relief. “Weather is not a solution,” said an environmental expert participating in the protest. “The government cannot keep waiting for wind to clean the air. We need long-term action, stricter emission control, cleaner fuel, and better coordination with neighboring states.”
The Unseen Emergency
Behind every data point lies a story of quiet suffering. Children confined indoors, senior citizens skipping evening walks, and workers braving toxic air for daily wages Delhi’s pollution is no longer just an environmental issue; it’s a public health emergency.
According to health experts, breathing Delhi’s winter air for one day is equivalent to smoking 10 cigarettes. Continuous exposure could shorten life expectancy by up to nine years, especially for those living in high-density areas.
A Growing Citizens’ Movement
Sunday’s protest has sparked what many call the beginning of a citizen-led environmental awakening. From social media campaigns to petitions for clean air, the movement is gaining momentum.
Environmental groups now plan to file a collective public interest petition urging the government to declare a “Clean Air Emergency” in the National Capital Region and enforce stricter emission controls year-round.
Parting Thoughts –
Delhi’s air pollution has become a test of governance, accountability, and collective will. While policy measures exist on paper, execution remains weak. Citizens are now demanding that air quality management be treated not as an annual ritual, but as a daily priority.
As one young protester at India Gate said, “We are not asking for luxury, just the right to breathe.”
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