Vantage | Who's to blame for India's breath of death every winter?

“Winter is coming,” a phrase made famous by the hit TV series Game of Thrones carries an ominous tone in the fictional world of Westeros. However, in India, this phrase takes on a different, and very real, meaning. With a booming population, a robust economy and a heartbreaking distinction as the eighth most polluted country on Earth, India faces an air pollution crisis of epic proportions.

Chilling impact of winter In many parts of India, the arrival of winter is not just marked by a drop in temperature. It ushers in a season of breathing difficulties and poor visibility, forcing schools and factories to shut down. Nowhere is this more evident than in the nation’s capital, New Delhi, which ranks as the third most polluted city globally following Lahore in Pakistan and Hotan in China. While children under the age of 18 are prohibited from smoking in India, the residents of Delhi are effectively smoking the equivalent of 15 cigarettes a day, just by breathing the air. The city’s air quality consistently fluctuates between “very poor” and “severe” with certain areas reaching “hazardous” levels registering air quality indexes as high as 700. A satisfactory level of pollution should fall between 0 and 100, making Delhi’s air quality a matter of grave concern. The air quality crisis is not limited to Delhi alone. Out of the 30 most polluted cities in the world, a staggering 22 are located in India. The reasons behind this alarming statistic vary with crop burning in northern India and construction activities in coastal cities like Mumbai contributing significantly to the problem. Nonetheless, the results remain the same – a dire situation that affects the health and well-being of millions. A global ‘air’ crisis India shares this air pollution crisis with several other countries including Chad, Iraq, Pakistan, Bahrain and Bangladesh consistently ranking as some of the most polluted places on Earth. However, recent observations have shown that even wealthier nations are not immune to the problem. Countries like Northeastern America, China and parts of Europe have witnessed worsening air quality highlighting the alarming global scope of this issue. Air pollution is not just a minor inconvenience; it is a silent killer. It is responsible for strokes, heart diseases, lung cancer, respiratory diseases and even type two diabetes. Every year, approximately 7 million people die due to air pollution with India contributing over a million of these tragic deaths. This is an alarming reality that demands immediate attention. In response to the crisis, the Indian government has declared public health emergencies leading to school closures, construction project halts and various other measures. But it’s not enough. The blame game among politicians continues while the public suffers. The question remains: who is truly accountable for this crisis and are we holding our leaders responsible? The apathy towards clean air may, in the end, be the deadliest threat we face. The suffocating reality of India’s air pollution crisis is a looming disaster that affects every citizen, rich or poor. The time has come for individuals and governments to take this issue seriously and work towards a cleaner, healthier future. Air pollution is not fate; it’s a man-made disaster that can be mitigated with collective effort and a genuine demand for change. Clean air is a basic right and it’s time we demand it for our sake and for generations to come. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely that of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstpost’s views. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.