New delhi residents take to the streets as toxic smog reaches “severe” levels, triggering rare public protests

A suffocating blanket of toxic smog has once again descended upon New Delhi, pushing air pollution to dangerous levels and driving frustrated residents to stage rare public protests demanding immediate government action. On Monday morning, the capital’s Air Quality Index soared to 344 – a “severe” rating that poses serious health risks to the city’s 30 million inhabitants, according to World Health Organization standards.

The deteriorating air quality sparked an unusual public demonstration at New Delhi’s iconic India Gate monument on Sunday evening, where hundreds of residents, parents, and environmental activists gathered to voice their anger over the recurring pollution crisis. Protesters wore masks and carried powerful messages, including one placard that simply read: “I miss breathing.” However, police quickly moved to confiscate signs and disperse the crowd, citing lack of proper demonstration permits.

The toxic air has left residents suffering from headaches, persistent coughs, and mounting frustration toward politicians who they accuse of pointing fingers rather than implementing effective solutions to this annual health emergency. “I am here just as a citizen who cares and who is worried about the state of situation that we are in with respect to the lack of clean air to breathe,” explained one protester named Meghna.

This crisis underscores a broader environmental challenge facing India, which is home to six of the world’s ten most polluted cities. New Delhi consistently ranks as the most polluted capital city globally, making this public outcry a critical moment in the ongoing battle for breathable air in one of the world’s largest urban centers.