IPS Officer's Harrowing Experience in Polluted Delhi
Former Jammu and Kashmir director-general of police Shesh Paul Vaid has shared a disturbing account of his family's health deterioration after a brief stay in India's capital. The senior IPS officer revealed that a 15-day trip to New Delhi left him and his family members with severe respiratory problems and constant discomfort.
"Like Inhaling a Thousand Cigarettes"
In a powerful social media post on platform X, Vaid described the physical toll of Delhi's polluted air on his family. "My family and I returned to Jammu today after spending 15 days in New Delhi and we are all in bad shape," he wrote. The officer detailed symptoms including severe throat pain, running noses, and "a constant burning sensation as if we've inhaled a thousand cigarettes."
Vaid expressed particular concern for Delhi's permanent residents, especially vulnerable groups. "If this is what short-term visitors experience, imagine the suffering of Delhi's children, the elderly, and those already living with lung disease," he added, highlighting the grave public health crisis.
Pollution Data and Public Outcry
The timing of Vaid's complaint coincides with alarming air quality readings in the capital. According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi's air quality index (AQI) registered at 372 at 7 am on Monday, placing it in the 'very poor' category. The situation had worsened from Sunday when the air quality entered the 'severe' category.
The IPS officer didn't mince words in his criticism of authorities, describing Delhi as a "gas chamber" and demanding immediate action. "If this humanitarian crisis does not jolt the Supreme Court, the Union Government, and the Delhi Government into immediate action, then what will? Where is the accountability?" Vaid questioned in his post.
His concerns resonated with many Delhi residents who shared similar experiences in the comments. One user expressed shock at the pollution situation, while another suggested extended school holidays to protect children. The public frustration culminated on Sunday when hundreds of Delhi residents protested against air pollution, though most were detained by police citing protocol violations.
The incident highlights the growing health emergency in the national capital and increasing public demand for concrete government action to address the perennial pollution crisis.
