A London-based founder who arrived in Delhi for a trip abruptly ended his visit to Delhi, citing severe air pollution, and urged people to prioritise health over property or career ambitions and move out of the city. In a candid LinkedIn post, Kunal Kushwaha, senior developer associate and founder of WeMakeDevs—a global community for hackathons and tech events—described the experience as a “crisis” and added that Mumbai too had similar problems.
“I used to think, how bad can the AQI really be for people in Delhi? I knew it was bad, but I never understood the scale because I didn’t feel it as drastically,” he wrote. “I grew up in Delhi, studied here, and never felt a huge difference. You see people on the streets without masks, just walking around, and even people going for morning runs.”
After living in London for several years, Kushwaha said the contrast was stark. “The moment I landed in Delhi I could literally taste and smell the pollution. Even AQI 200 hit me hard: sore throat, and a feeling like needles in my lungs. I could actually feel the pollution entering my body.”
Calling the situation a health emergency, he added: “Please leave this city for your own sake. Buying a property here does not make sense either. Same for Mumbai. If you can, pack your bags and move yourself and your work somewhere else. I’ve cut my trip short and I’m leaving this city tomorrow.”
Social media reacts: ‘A wake-up call’
Kushwaha’s post sparked intense discussion on LinkedIn, with users echoing his concerns. One comment read: “Career, wealth, or ‘settling down’ only make sense on the foundation of a healthy body and mind. Jobs and opportunities will always come, but once lungs and heart are permanently damaged by toxic air, no money can fully buy them back.”
Another user shared a grim observation: “Landed in Delhi this morning. The smog was so bad that until I felt the touchdown impact of the landing gear, I thought we were still in the clouds.”
While many supported Kushwaha’s decision, others urged influential voices to push for systemic change. “Leaving is a personal decision, and I wish you the best for your health and peace, but I truly believe people with your influence can help accelerate real change too. We need both awareness and action,” one comment noted.
X users highlight north India’s air crisis
On X, reactions were equally sharp. “NCR is worse, but the whole North belt actually... Polluted air is literally the poison,” wrote one user, recalling a recent spike in AQI to 600 that led to prolonged illness. Another post contrasted Europe’s single-digit AQI with Delhi’s hazardous levels, adding: “Delhi didn’t run out of ideas — it ran into politics. Odd-even, smog guns, cracker bans… every genuine effort was mocked instead of supported.”
Critics also pointed out the limitations of relocation advice: “‘Leave Delhi’ is great advice for the tiny percent who can. The rest of us need the air fixed, not a relocation plan.”
Delhi's air quality very poor for weeks
The national capital woke up to toxic air on Sunday, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) at 381, placing it in the “very poor” category, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Figures from CPCB’s Sameer app showed 13 monitoring stations in Delhi reporting air quality in the “severe” category, while 25 stations logged “very poor” readings above 300. Under CPCB standards, AQI between 0–50 is “good”, 51–100 “satisfactory”, 101–200 “moderate”, 201–300 “poor”, 301–400 “very poor”, and 401–500 “severe”.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
