Air Pollution Becomes National Emergency Across Indian Cities
Air pollution in Indian cities has transformed from a seasonal winter concern into a continuous nationwide crisis. What was once primarily associated with Delhi now affects urban centers from Mumbai to Hyderabad. Hazardous air quality index levels are becoming a regular feature of daily life, escalating what many considered a temporary inconvenience into a full-blown public health emergency.
Hyderabad's Deteriorating Air Quality Reaches Critical Levels
Hyderabad provides a stark example of this alarming trend. The city's air quality has steadily worsened over the past five years. During winter months, Hyderabad now records multiple days in the 'poor' to 'severe' AQI categories. Data reveals a disturbing progression. In 2021, average AQI readings for December and January ranged between 100 and 150, indicating moderate to poor air quality. By 2025-26, these averages have surged to approximately 300, entering the hazardous range.
Specific measurements highlight the severity. On January 1, 2026, Hyderabad recorded an average AQI of 339, with a peak reading of 353 at 6 AM. Certain neighborhoods experienced even worse conditions. In late December 2025, Teachers Colony registered an AQI of 367 while Kompally recorded 278. Even areas showing slight improvement, like Kompally with an AQI of 87, maintained PM 2.5 and PM 10 levels far exceeding World Health Organization safety limits.
Environmental Advocate Dia Mirza Sounds Alarm on Growing Crisis
Actor and environmentalist Dia Mirza, who grew up in Hyderabad and has dedicated nearly a decade to environmental advocacy, views this deterioration with serious concern. Speaking to Hyderabad Times, she emphasized how clean air has shifted from being assumed to being fiercely contested. Mirza stresses that denial is costing valuable time and that India must recognize polluted air for what it truly represents - a direct threat to human life.
"Hyderabad's air is hitting dangerous levels and it's only getting worse," Mirza states bluntly. She contrasts her childhood memories of blue skies and clean air with current reality, noting that while Hyderabad remains better off than many cities, recent AQI readings reaching 360 should alarm every resident.
The Fundamental Right to Breathe Clean Air
Mirza's environmental activism has consistently centered on clean air. Approximately eight years ago, her appointment as a UNEP ambassador brought her to a Bangkok conference for the Breathe Life campaign. There, she encountered air pollution data and statistics that are only now entering mainstream public discussion.
"The right to life begins with the right to breathe clean air," Mirza asserts. She recalls that air quality previously received minimal attention outside a few winter months, and even then was framed as Delhi's problem exclusively. Current data clearly demonstrates this is a national issue, yet states continue failing to prioritize it with necessary urgency.
From Seasonal Problem to National Health Emergency
Air pollution's visibility fluctuates with seasons, becoming more noticeable during winter when it becomes extremely dense. However, data confirms that poor air quality persists throughout much of the year. With 21 of the world's most polluted cities located in India, Mirza insists this must be acknowledged as a national health emergency.
The consequences affect everyone. Pregnant women, developing fetuses, and children in critical growth phases face particular vulnerability. Prolonged exposure causes multiple health issues including brain fog, developmental disruptions in children, inflammation in women in their 40s or undergoing menopause, and various respiratory illnesses.
"This is not something we can afford to normalise," Mirza warns. She explains that AQI levels above 100 prove harmful, while anything exceeding 300 becomes dangerous even for brief exposure periods.
Conflicting Data and the Danger of Denial
Mirza monitors air quality data from multiple platforms, including IQAir and the CPCB-approved monitor at Hyderabad's ICRISAT scientific institution. She finds discrepancies worrying. Independent applications frequently report AQI levels 30 to 40 points higher than state-run platforms display.
When official readings consistently appear lower, confusion results. Worse, it creates a false sense of safety. "Denial doesn't solve anything. It only delays action," Mirza emphasizes. Discrediting third-party applications, questioning devices, or manipulating readings merely shifts attention from the real problem. Honest acknowledgment, accurate information, and treating air pollution as the public health emergency it represents remain essential.
Children Growing Up Without Clean Air Memories
Mirza contrasts her Hyderabad childhood with current conditions. "Children today don't know any other reality," she observes sadly. She remembers playing outdoors freely, climbing trees without parental health concerns. Today's children experience different circumstances.
Documenting Hyderabad's AQI levels for two years has revealed rapid construction transforming the city. Hills being cut, rocks blasted, and glass, concrete and steel proliferating everywhere. Mirza clarifies she isn't against development but advocates for conscious growth utilizing existing green solutions.
"Air pollution is one of the lowest-hanging fruits. It is solvable," she insists. Many countries, including China, have demonstrated improvement possibilities. India owes its children a future where clean air represents not a privilege but a guaranteed right. Achieving this requires speaking up, demanding accountability, and taking immediate action.
