In a chilling 60-second clip that has gripped millions, Delhi entrepreneur Kapil Dhama, founder of Options360, exposed how fragile indoor air safety truly is. With four high-grade air purifiers running 24×7, his home’s Air Quality Index (AQI) hovered at 97, officially “moderate.” The moment he opened the main door, the reading surged past 500, entering the “severe” zone within seconds.
“Four purifiers running 24×7 at home. Reading while all doors are closed — 100. Just opened the main door — touched 500. Life has become hell in NCR and govt is busy in Bihar campaign,” Dhama posted on X on November 1, 2025.
The video, now viewed over 1.3 million times, has become a stark symbol of Delhi’s post-Diwali air crisis.
Dhama’s clip coincides with the post-Diwali pollution surge experts had warned about. Despite the Supreme Court’s 2025 ruling allowing limited use of certified green crackers, air quality across Delhi-NCR plummeted into the “very poor” (301–400) and “severe” (401–500) categories.
Dr. S. Chatterjee, Senior Consultant in Internal Medicine at Apollo Hospitals, Delhi, told ANI:
“While green crackers reduce pollution by about 30% compared to traditional ones, thanks to smaller shells and less hazardous materials, they are not free of pollution. In Delhi’s current toxic backdrop, even this modest cut may prove inadequate, potentially worsening respiratory issues for millions.”
His warning underscores a harsh reality: no firework is truly safe when baseline pollution is already hazardous.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) defines the National Air Quality Index (AQI) as a tool that transforms complex data from eight pollutants: PM₁₀, PM₂.₅, NO₂, SO₂, CO, O₃, NH₃, and Pb into a single number, color, and health message.
Key rule: The worst sub-index determines the overall AQI.
Retailers report a sharp spike in air-purifier demand, with prices ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹45,000. Yet, as one report noted: “Not everyone in Delhi can stay indoors and afford an air purifier.”
Meanwhile, political controversy brews. The Delhi government approved ₹5.45 lakh for 15 “smart” air purifiers in the Secretariat and Chief Minister’s residence. Opposition leaders slammed the move:
“Public funds are being used to protect offices while citizens continue to breathe hazardous air outdoors.”
Dr. Sumbul, MBBS, MD outlined practical steps in an article previously published in MedBound Times:
Seal during peak hours - Keep windows closed early morning and late evening.
Use HEPA purifiers - Reduce indoor PM₂.₅ by 50–60%.
Wet-clean only - Avoid dry dusting; use microfiber or damp cloths.
Avoid indoor smoke - No incense, candles, or smoking.
Ventilate smartly - Open briefly around noon when outdoor AQI dips.
Track real-time AQI - Mobile apps or air-quality monitors can guide when to ventilate.
“Fine particulate matter easily seeps inside homes, turning indoor spaces into hidden pollution traps,” Dr. Sumbul wrote.
Dhama didn’t stop at pollution. Responding to a BJP MP’s call to rename Delhi “Indraprastha” posted by IANS on X, he fired back:
“They don’t care about pollution choking Delhi, they just care about changing its name. Maybe they think smog will vanish once it’s called Indraprastha.”
His sarcasm echoes a growing public sentiment: symbolic gestures won’t clear the air.
Delhi’s post-Diwali smog is an annual public health emergency, one that seeps through walls, spikes in seconds, and burdens the young and old most.
(Rh/VK/MSM)
