The severe Delhi Pollution Crisis has reached a new, personal tipping point, even forcing former Xiaomi India chief and current tech group G42 CEO, Manu Kumar Jain, to cut his short visit to the national capital short. Within mere hours of his arrival, the city’s poor air quality drove him to book an earlier flight back.
Jain shared his dramatic experience on X (formerly Twitter) with a photo showing himself masked on the flight. He detailed the immediate physical impact of the dangerous air:
“Was in Delhi for a day for some important meetings, and realised how out of practice I am with the air pollution here. Within a few hours my eyes were watering, throat was burning, I kept coughing and even had a mild headache…”
The experience hit him harder as he grew up in nearby Meerut, studied at IIT Delhi, and holds a deep affection for the city, its energy, food, and people
The Emotional Toll of the Delhi Pollution Crisis
Jain’s post quickly went viral, resonating deeply with residents and visitors, and highlighting the emotional toll the crisis is taking.
“I was forced to take an earlier flight back,” Jain admitted, adding that such experiences are a stark reminder of how far the city still has to go on air quality. He stressed that the blame lies with everyone, hoping for a collective effort: “I sincerely hope we can turn this around and make a real change for our kids – so that they can grow up breathing cleaner air.”
Social Media Reacts: “Imagine What Happens To A Child”
The overwhelming response to his post underscored the severity of the Delhi Pollution Crisis:
Impact on Children: One user commented, “If a healthy adult can’t last a few hours, imagine what this does to a child who breathes Delhi’s air every single day.”
The Reconsideration: Another person shared a wrenching decision: “Love of my family brought me here, but I think it’s time to rethink and take my loved ones outside India with me.”
Widespread Symptoms: Multiple users confirmed experiencing the same symptoms—burning throats, coughing, and headaches—shortly after arriving in Delhi.
🚧 City Under GRAP-3 Restrictions
To combat the persistently dangerous Air Quality Index (AQI), the city remains under GRAP-3 restrictions. Several pollution-control steps have been activated, including a ban on construction activities and the deployment of water spraying vehicles on major road stretches.
As a crucial precautionary measure, schools in Delhi have temporarily shifted primary classes to a hybrid mode to protect the most vulnerable residents from the toxic air.
