As a hazardous smog blanket descends upon the national capital, a resourceful Delhi resident has turned to ingenuity to fight back against toxic air. In a viral revelation that has captured widespread attention, a local Reddit user demonstrated how to construct a highly effective air purifier at home for an astonishingly low cost of under Rs 2,000.
The Rs 2,000 Miracle: Components and Cost Breakdown
In a detailed post titled "I Built my Personal Air Purifier for 2000 INR", the user, known online as shukrant25, laid out the simple blueprint for the device. The core of the setup is surprisingly straightforward, built from components easily sourced by the average person.
The total expenditure came to approximately Rs 2,000, with the major components being a 150mm exhaust fan costing Rs 750 and a standard HEPA filter purchased from Amazon for Rs 1,000. The remaining Rs 150 was spent on basic assembly materials including a switch, some wire, a regulator, cardboard for the frame, and a glue gun to hold it all together.
Staggering Performance in a Delhi Room
The most compelling part of the story is not just the low cost, but the reported performance of this homemade machine. The creator claimed that the do-it-yourself purifier delivered results that rivaled or even surpassed expensive commercial brands.
In a test conducted in a 12x12-foot room, the device allegedly brought down the Air Quality Index (AQI) from a severe and hazardous level of 400 to a much healthier 50. Impressively, this dramatic improvement was achieved in just 15 minutes while the purifier was running at its lowest speed setting. The Redditor even noted that it worked "even better than the Philips one I have," highlighting its unexpected efficacy.
Public Reaction and a City Choking on Smog
The post quickly went viral on the social media platform, amassing thousands of upvotes and sparking a flood of enthusiastic comments. The online community immediately recognized the value of this affordable hack, with many users urging the creator to share more detailed instructions.
One popular request was, "Iski ek tutorial video bhi banao" (Make a tutorial video for this). Others pointed out the simple science behind air purifiers, noting they are essentially about moving air through filters. Some commenters even suggested organizing local workshops in Delhi to help fellow residents build their own units.
This burst of DIY enthusiasm comes at a critical time. Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) are once again in the grip of a severe air pollution crisis as winter sets in. The timing of this innovation could not be more relevant, offering a glimmer of hope and self-reliance to millions gasping for clean air.
The situation was further underscored by another viral video that contrasted the clear skies of Vienna with the dense, grey smog enveloping Delhi, a stark visual reminder of the environmental challenge facing the city. In this grim scenario, a simple solution costing just Rs 2,000 represents a powerful tool for personal health and well-being.