Zomato says sorry to Delhi-NCR in ‘smoked chicken’ joke

Zomato’s apology to the residents of Delhi-NCR is actually a cleverly-disguised joke on the skyrocketing pollution levels in the national capital. On Wednesday, Delhi’s overall AQI worsened to 339 - up from 321 on Tuesday, according to SAFAR, a forecasting agency under the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences. A thick layer of haze and smog has also enveloped the national capital and adjoining areas over the last few days.

In the midst of this, food delivery platform Zomato decided to use humour to lighten the situation. Zomato apologised to the residents of Delhi-NCR for delivering smoked chicken instead of chicken, but pointed out that the situation was out of their hands.

“sorry delhi-ncr, our chat support can't help if your chicken gets delivered as smoked chicken,” Zomato tweeted.

sorry delhi-ncr, our chat support can't help if your chicken gets delivered as smoked chicken

— zomato (@zomato) November 7, 2022

Dhuaa dhuaa

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— Navneet (@_navneetkalera) November 7, 2022

One Twitter user quipped that the air pollution in the national capital is so bad that no one saw the joke coming.

Delhi so polluted that we didn't saw this joke coming

— alone walker (@icribebi) November 7, 2022

haha jokes on you Zomato.. this tweet is not visible for delhiites right now

— Kartikeya S H (@kartik_h_kartik) November 7, 2022

But many Twitter users found the joke to be insensitive and distasteful, pointing out that breathing Delhi’s toxic air has led to health problems

Make more such insensitive jokes and you may be smoked out by the competition

— varun malavalli (@leadkindlylight) November 7, 2022

The fact that Delhi's hazardous air which puts the life of millions at risk has become a joke for corporations like Zomato is indicative of widespread corporate malice masquerading as need for engagement. Utterly disappointing.

— Phree Bhektor (@jhozzaj) November 7, 2022

Delhi has been likened to a gas chamber for its toxic air in the last few days.

GRAP classifies the air quality in Delhi-NCR under four different stages: Stage 1 - 'poor' (AQI 201-300); stage 2 - 'very poor' (AQI 301-400); stage 3 - 'severe' (AQI 401-450); and stage 4 - 'severe plus' (AQI >450).

An AQI of above 400 is considered 'severe' and can seriously aggravate respiratory issues.