Tech Professional's Stark Warning About Delhi's Toxic Air
A London-based technology expert's blunt advice for people to abandon Delhi has triggered intense online discussions as the capital struggles through another season of dangerously polluted air. Kunal Kushwaha, who serves as senior developer advocate at Cast.ai, recently returned to Delhi after living abroad and immediately felt the harsh impact of the city's air quality on his health.
Immediate Physical Impact of Pollution
After spending several years in London, Kushwaha took to social media platform X to describe his alarming experience. He wrote that arriving in Delhi felt like he could literally taste and smell pollution with every single breath. Even when the Air Quality Index registered around 200 - a level that many Delhi residents have come to accept as normal - he experienced significant physical discomfort including a sore throat and a stinging sensation in his lungs.
Describing the air crisis as completely unbearable, Kushwaha urged people to consider moving out of Delhi entirely, even suggesting that taking on debt might be worth the health benefits. The situation became so severe that he decided to cut his India trip short due to the rapidly worsening air conditions.
Social Media Divided Over Practical Solutions
While many social media users agreed with Kushwaha's assessment of Delhi's toxic air quality, they strongly challenged the practicality of his relocation advice for the majority of residents. One user pointed out the economic reality facing most people, writing: Leave Delhi is great advice for the tiny percentage who can actually do it. The rest of us need the air fixed, not a relocation plan.
Another comment highlighted how deeply connected people are to the city: Leaving isn't an option for 99% of us. Most people are stuck here because jobs, family - everything is tied to this city. This sentiment was echoed by numerous others who acknowledged the severity of the pollution problem while emphasizing the need for systemic solutions rather than individual escape routes.
Global Comparisons and Personal Stories
The discussion expanded to include international comparisons, with one user sharing observations about air quality in other major global cities. They noted that Shanghai surprisingly had better AQI scores than Santiago, despite common assumptions about which city would have cleaner air. During a hiking trip in the Andes lower range, they could visibly see a layer of smog from manufacturing and construction activities.
Several users contributed their own personal health struggles with respiratory issues directly linked to Delhi's air pollution. Many urged authorities to implement stronger environmental protection measures and enforcement. Some revealed that they had made major life decisions, including relocating to different cities, solely because of the persistent air quality crisis affecting their families' health and wellbeing.
The online debate continues to highlight the growing concern among residents about the long-term health implications of Delhi's pollution while underscoring the complex economic and social factors that make simple solutions like relocation impractical for most of the population.
