Jan 8, 2026: What changes when you step indoors in Delhi’s pollution?

In Delhi, bad air doesn’t stay outside. Today, at our Sarvodaya Enclave office, the air inside a closed room without an air purifier was already dangerous to breathe. The AQI stood at 309, with PM2.5 at 134 and PM10 at 147 – numbers you would expect from a polluted street, not an indoor workspace.

Switching on an air purifier immediately changed the picture. In the same room, the AQI dropped to 48. PM2.5 fell to 29 and PM10 to 39. It was the difference between air that hurts your lungs and air you can breathe without thinking about it.

Outside, the situation was even worse. The AQI touched 348, with PM2.5 at 183 and PM10 at 348.

But this contrast also tells another story. Air purifiers can help, but they cost money. For thousands of people in Delhi who cannot afford one, clean air remains out of reach – even inside their own homes.

This show is part of a collaborative campaign to tackle air pollution. Here’s how you can join the Fight To Breathe. Click here to power this campaign.