Air in Delhi-NCR has turned into a daily health threat. As smog thickens, many residents say life in the region feels increasingly unsafe. For some, the cost of staying has begun to outweigh everything else, and many are deciding to leave the region.
That sense of urgency surfaced strongly on social media when a Delhi-based professional chose to speak openly about why he is leaving the city for good. His words resonated with many who have lived through similar fears while breathing the same air.
Delhi Professional Leaves City Amid Rising Air Pollution Crisis
Ravi Verma, a marketing advisor at AdChoreo, shared a detailed post on LinkedIn where he explained why he has decided to leave Delhi after 13 years. Right at the start, he made his emotions clear, writing, “Leaving Delhi finally after spending 13 years of my life in this shithole of a city.”
He then laid out what he described as the most difficult five years of his life. In his post, Verma wrote that he “lost all adult members of my family in COVID, including my wife, brother, mother, and sister-in-law.” Alongside personal loss, he spoke about severe health issues that developed over time. He said he was diagnosed with “avascular necrosis in both femoral heads” and added that he would need “Total Hip Replacement operations in my 40s.”
The health concerns did not stop there. Verma also shared that he developed “pollution/irritant induced Asthma within the last year” and is now dependent on inhalers.
“Nothing, I repeat nothing, is worth losing this much. No place, no person, no amount of money, nothing is worth it. This year’s pollution with the asthma sealed the deal for me to just move out ASAP,” he added.
Delhi Man’s Harsh Truth About Pollution: ‘No One’s Coming To Save Us’
While Verma did blame the government, he also questioned the role and responsibility of ordinary people. “And while we blame the government, rightfully, we people carry far more blame. Primarily because noone cares,” he wrote.
He pointed out everyday behaviour that, according to him, shows how normalised the crisis has become. “Only a small percentage of people wear masks. They go out for morning walks and kids are still going to school,” he added.
“Noone’s coming to save us. Show some urgency. Show some agency. Leave Delhi NCR ASAP. Prioritise your health. Prioritise peace. Prioritise living normally,” Verma wrote further.
He also addressed those who argue that not everyone can afford to leave the city: “Also, those who say, ‘not everyone can just leave or afford leaving the city’ just don’t have healthy living as their number 1 priority.”
“I gave myself the same excuses and suffered. But I learnt my lesson. Hope you learn before you suffer as much as I did. To Delhi – Good riddance,” Verma concluded.
Verma’s post drew strong reactions from other users, many of whom shared their own experiences of leaving Delhi for health reasons.
One user commented, “You didn’t deserve to go through all that. Sorry for your loss. I feel you when you say this. I lived in Delhi for 10 years and cribbed and cribbed…finally 3 years ago we left Delhi for our health and happiness. Moved south…close to the oceans. Best decision ever.”
Another said, “Your message is a tough reminder of what chronic neglect and worsening pollution can do to real people,” the user said.
“I spent almost a decade in Delhi before I decided to move to another city closer to nature about 6 months ago. I have never been happier and I feel much healthier now, physically and mentally,” someone else shared.
“Reading this hits hard. Trying to imagine all that loss and pain while still fighting your own body and breath would be futile. Leaving feels like the only sane choice,” read another comment.
Delhi AQI Shows No Respite
Meanwhile, Delhi continued to struggle with hazardous air conditions, as the overall AQI stood at around 387 at 6 AM on Friday, December 19. It stayed in the ‘very poor’ category and showed no sign of relief from the ongoing pollution spell.
