00:0024-year-old Ameesha Munjal moved to New Delhi to be closer to her family and a fresh start.
00:07It has been anything but for the finance executive as toxic air in the world's most polluted
00:12capital has sent her health spiralling. The hazardous haze is wreaking havoc with her
00:17allergies resulting in relentless coughing, sore throats and breathlessness. She's been
00:22forced indoors and into a debilitating routine.
00:26I can't even go out for getting the basic groceries. I have to either order it online.
00:32I can't do a lot of exercises. I can't go to the gym. I can't go for a walk downstairs.
00:38I can't even go to the balcony to do yoga because the air is just so bad.
00:43A nebuliser and medicines have eased symptoms. But her doctor has told her to move out of
00:48the city or face severe health consequences such as pneumonia.
00:53Which is obviously very heartbreaking. I have to leave my house. I have to leave the city
00:59that I've grown up in just because of the air.
01:02Air quality in northern India has deteriorated over the past week, reaching severe levels.
01:07Readings of dangerous particle matter, which can be carried into the lungs, were more than
01:11120 times the World Health Organization's recommended levels on Wednesday morning in
01:16Delhi, IQ Air said.
01:19India's nose and throat consultant, Dr. Muneesh Taneja, says this is a common issue for allergy
01:24sufferers around this time of year.
01:27Every year this season is like that. Whenever people who have some sort of mild allergy
01:33they come to Delhi, they get affected because of the pollution and all their allergies and
01:39ENT infections and chest infections go up. So they obviously, of course I advise them
01:45that if it is possible for them to move out, better to stay away from this place and stay
01:50at places where the pollution is not much.
01:54India's government has banned non-essential construction in the city and urged residents
01:59to use public transport and avoid burning coal for heating. Water with dust suppressants
02:05is being sprinkled on roads, as well as mechanised sweeping that would help settle dust.
02:11The city battles smog, a toxic mix of smoke and fog, every winter as cold air traps dust,
02:18emissions and smoke from illegal farm fires. Officials blamed high pollution combined with
02:23humidity, but calmed winds and a drop in temperature for the smog.
Comments