Unending suffocation

Delhi is suffocating in the real sense of the term. Post Diwali, yet again, the city finds itself wrapped in a toxic shroud of smog, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) plunging into the 'severe plus' category for the second consecutive day on Tuesday.

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The AQI hit an alarming 500, leaving millions gasping for breath and turning daily life into a struggle. Hospitals are reported to have been flooded with patients suffering from respiratory ailments. Schools have been forced to shift to online classes, and flights are being diverted as visibility drops to near zero in certain areas. A public health emergency demanding nothing less than urgent attention, is knocking on the door, unanswered. The air in Delhi has become unbreathable, and this is no exaggeration. The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) has labelled the situation 'severe', warning that even healthy individuals are at risk. The city's hospitals are seeing a surge in cases of asthma, bronchitis, and other respiratory problems. Doctors are urging residents to stay indoors and avoid physical exertion. For many, however, such precautions are a luxury they cannot afford. Those who work outdoors or commute daily have no escape from the invisible poison they inhale on a daily basis.