With AQI deteriorating, 69% Delhi NCR families now have someone with sore throat compared to 36% two weeks ago

Nov 2, 2024, New Delhi: With the cracker ban enforcement going up in smoke on Diwali, many parts of Delhi and NCR recorded AQI levels of 999 on Diwali night. Loud cracker sounds could be heard all across Delhi-NCR till midnight as people celebrated Diwali. The ban by Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) on the manufacturing, storage, sale, and use of firecrackers until January 1, 2025, seemed to have very little impact with crackers openly being sold and purchased in all the four NCR cities with zero enforcement by authorities.

With many already having cough and cold and some even suffering already suffering from respiratory disorders like asthma, bronchitis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the severe or hazardous AQI levels post Diwali are likely to make things worse. LocalCircles, which had conducted a survey on October 19th soon after GRAP 1 was imposed in Delhi to find out what people were experiencing has conducted a new survey which concluded on November 1st morning (post Diwali) to understand what they are currently experiencing in regards to health ailments and their coping mechanism going forward. The survey received over 21,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. 63% respondents were men while 37% respondents were women.

69% Delhi NCR families have one or more members with sore throat, cough while 62% have burning eyes due to rising levels of pollution; 46% have someone having running nose/congestion

The survey first asked residents of Delhi NCR, “What are all the ailments you or members of your family in Delhi NCR are now experiencing due to the air pollution?” Some among 10,829 who responded to the question indicated more than one option. Thus, 69% indicated that they or their family members have “sore throat and/ or cough”; 62% indicated experiencing “burning eyes”; 46% indicated “runny nose and/ or congestion”; 31% stated “breathing difficulty/ asthma”; 31% indicated "headache”; 23% stated “anxiety and/ or difficulty concentrating”; 15% stated “difficulty sleeping”; however, 31% stated that they or their family members “have no issues at all due to pollution”. To sum up, 69% Delhi NCR families have one or more members with sore throat, cough while 62% have burning eyes due to rising levels of pollution; 46% have someone having running nose/congestion.

Percentage of families who have one or more members down with sore throat rose from 36% to 69% in the last two weeks

In a matter of two weeks, the new survey shows that the percentage of families who have one or more members down with sore throat has risen from 36% to 69%. This brings to fore the harmful impact of air pollution.

Only 23% citizens of Delhi NCR will use air purifiers to reduce impact of pollution; a large majority will just live with it, increase intake of immunity foods and drinks; 15% planning to travel for some part of the next one month

The survey next asked Delhi NCR residents, “With Delhi NCR AQI now in the 300-500 range and expected to go up by 2 times in the next one week, what best describes what you and your family are doing to get better prepared to handle this?” Out of 10,630 Delhi NCR residents who responded to the question 15% stated that they are “planning to travel out for some or most of this period”; 9% stated that they plan to “stay indoors, increase intake of immunity foods/ drinks and bear it”; 23% stated that they plan to “stay indoors, increase intake of immunity foods/ drinks, use air purifiers”; 15% stated that they plan to “carry on routine activity and wear mask when outdoors”; 15% stated that they plan to “carry on routine activity and wear mask when outdoors, increase intake of immunity foods/ drinks”; and 23% stated that they “will not do any of the above and just live with it”. In essence, only 23% citizens of Delhi NCR will use air purifiers to reduce impact of pollution; a large majority will just live with it, increase intake of immunity foods and drinks; 15% planning to travel for some part of the next one month.

Percentage of families who are using air purifiers to reduce impact of pollution rose from 18% to 23% in the last two weeks

In just two weeks the air pollution levels have increased so much that many more many families have someone experiencing health problems. This appears to have resulted in an increase in the percentage of families who are using air purifiers from 18% to 23%.

In summary, with rising AQI levels in the last two weeks and now a further increase likely post Diwali, 69% Delhi NCR families have one or more members with sore throat, cough while 62% have burning eyes due to rising levels of pollution; 46% have someone having running nose/congestion. The percentage of families who have one or more members down with sore throat has risen from 36% to 69% in the last two weeks. 23% citizens of Delhi NCR are planning to use air purifiers in the next one month to reduce the impact of air pollution. A large majority of Delhi NCR residents surveyed stated that they will just live with it and take safeguard measures by increasing intake of immunity foods and drinks.

18% respondents in the LocalCircles survey had indicated that they will burn crackers this Diwali and that is exactly what happened. People of Delhi NCR are suffering due to failure of authorities to form policies and enforce them effectively and this was clearly apparent in how the cracker ban was enforced. At least, now these authorities of Delhi and NCR cities should wake up and enforce the necessary GRAP restrictions properly on garbage burning, manual sweeping, construction activity and other related areas till the time AQI comes down to healthy levels.

Survey Demographics

The survey received over 21,000 responses from residents of Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad and Ghaziabad. 63% respondents were men while 37% respondents were women. The survey was conducted via LocalCircles platform, and all participants were validated citizens who had to be registered with LocalCircles to participate in this survey.