The Take Is Delhi's toxic smog making the city unlivable?
Dec 9, 2025
Yashraj Sharma, an independent journalist in New Delhi, takes us through the choking reality of Delhi's toxic smog every winter. He vividly describes the grey-brown haze enveloping the city and the health crises it spawns, with a surge in respiratory emergencies. Sharma highlights the inadequate government responses, citizen protests, and the stark inequality faced by marginalized communities. He emphasizes the urgent need for sustainable policy changes and long-term strategies to combat the air pollution crisis gripping the capital.
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What The Smog Feels Like
- Yashraj Sharma describes the smog as a flat grey-brown haze that ghosts out landmarks and makes the sun a pale disc.
- He says the air tastes like ash, makes eyes itchy, chest heavy, and breathing noticeably harder.
Multiple Sources And A Winter Lid
- Multiple sources combine each winter: farm stubble burning, traffic, industry and stuck atmospheric conditions trap pollutants over Delhi.
- A warm inversion layer and weak winds act like a lid that prevents pollutants from dispersing.
Practical Steps To Reduce Exposure
- Use N95 masks when going outside and restrict visits from vulnerable relatives during smog season.
- Buy air purifiers and improve indoor ventilation if you can afford them to reduce exposure.