Delhi air crisis: Mother says young son forced to go into surgery after 2 years of respiratory distress

Sakshi Pahwa stated that her family had relocated to Delhi two years earlier.

Concerns about hazardous air quality in Delhi continued to escalate as a mother’s account about her young son’s declining health prompted widespread responses on social media. The woman, identified as Sakshi Pahwa, posted a video explaining how her child’s persistent respiratory problems eventually left doctors with no alternative but to conduct surgery.

Sakshi stated that her family had relocated to Delhitwo years earlier. She said that soon after the move, her son’s health began to deteriorate and what initially appeared to be occasional allergic reactions gradually turned into ongoing breathing difficulties. The video she uploaded showed her son on a hospital bed while medical staff attended to him. The footage also captured moments in which the child cried in discomfort, while Sakshi attempted to calm him by staying by his side or trying to distract him with small activities.

According to her account, the child’s condition “kept getting affected due to continue allergies from dust and pollution." She said that the family had attempted a range of treatments, including “steroid sprays, antibiotics, homeopathy," but none of those approaches improved his symptoms. As air pollution levels rose again, his breathing reportedly became more laboured. Sakshi said this further aggravation led to his “adenoids and tonsils to stage 4,” a development she described as the point at which the situation became “the scariest point." Doctors advised the family that surgery was the only viable medical response.

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A post shared by Sakshi Pahwa (@baby.khrisha_jayrit)

She added, “He had to undergo nose and throat surgery. Seeing him on the hospital bed in a huge pain after surgery broke our heart." She directed a critical message to viewers, saying, “This is the reality of Delhi NCR kids. But the government still stays silent. We pay taxes and this is what our children get back from the system."

Her post included a caption summarising her family’s experience: “Delhi NCR pollution didn’t just affect the air we breathe… it pushed my little one into surgery. Two years ago, we shifted here, and from that day chronic cold–cough, nonstop allergies and breathing issues began. No medicine worked, only pollution kept getting worse. As parents, watching him cry in the hospital broke us in ways words can’t explain. We pay taxes… and this is what our kids get in return. It’s time to speak up. #DelhiAQI"

The video drew strong reactions from viewers, many of whom expressed sympathy for the child and frustration about the continued health impact of air pollution. One user wrote, “Sorry to see this situation," while another commented, “It’s painful to see a kid in pain. I pray for the champ. Get well soon."

A user also urged the woman to relocate somewhere else. Several other people wished the young boy a speedy recovery and tagged Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta in the comments section.

As pollution levels continued to rise, the Delhi government issued additional restrictions on Monday under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Both government and private offices were advised to reduce onsite attendance and allow half of their workforce to operate from home.

Air quality in the capital had continued to worsen as winter approached, with PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations remaining well beyond accepted safety norms.