‘Leave Delhi, go in debt if you have to’: techie’s advice for Delhiites after breathing bad air sparks debate

After a Delhi visit that was cut short, the London-based techie said he struggled to breathe and advised residents of the national capital to relocate, even if it meant incurring debt.

In his post, he urged Delhi residents to prioritise their health over everything else, writing, “Leave Delhi, go in debt if you have to.” (File photo)

Delhi-NCR residents woke up on Sunday with AQI.in, a private website, pegging the air quality index (AQI) at 559. In contrast, the Air Quality Early Warning and Decision Support System reported a significantly lower reading of 380, still in the “very poor” category. Amid a public outcry on social media, an Indian tech professional living in London has urged people to move out of Delhi, warning that the capital’s deteriorating air quality is becoming unbearable.

After a brief visit, Kunal Kushwaha said he struggled to breathe and advised residents to relocate, even if it meant incurring debt. In a post, he urged Delhi residents to prioritise their health over everything else, writing, “Leave Delhi, go in debt if you have to.”

Kushwaha emphasised that he had misjudged the severity of the pollution until he experienced it again after spending years breathing cleaner air abroad. “I used to think, how bad can the AQI really be for people in Delhi? I knew it was bad, but I never understood the scale because I didn’t feel it as drastically. I grew up in Delhi, studied here, and never felt a huge difference. You see people on the streets without masks, just walking around, and even people going for morning runs,” he wrote.

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“But I was wrong. It’s a crisis. And honestly, leaving this city should be your top priority. After living in London for a few years and breathing clean air, the moment I landed in Delhi I could literally taste and smell the pollution. Even AQI 200 hit me hard: sore throat, and a feeling like needles in my lungs. I could actually feel the pollution entering my body,” he added.

Kushwaha also cautioned against purchasing real estate in major metros affected by pollution. “Please leave this city for your own sake. Buying a property here does not make sense either. Same for Mumbai. If you can, pack your bags and move yourself and your work somewhere else. I’ve cut my trip short and I’m leaving this city tomorrow,” he wrote.

See the post here:

Leave Delhi, go in debt if you have to.

I used to think, how bad can the AQI really be for people in Delhi? I knew it was bad, but I never understood the scale because I didn’t feel it as drastically. I grew up in Delhi, studied here, and never felt a huge difference. You see… pic.twitter.com/OV5RVE351C

— Kunal Kushwaha (@kunalstwt) November 22, 2025

Also Read | Delhi’s toxic air forces ex-Xiaomi CEO to leave city within hours: ‘Throat was burning, kept coughing’

The post triggered a debate with several users demanding accountability from the Delhi Government rather than moving out of the national capital. “Leave Delhi” is great advice for the tiny percent who can.
The rest of us need the air fixed, not a relocation plan,” an X user wrote. “Leaving isn’t an option for 99% of us. Most of us are stuck here because jobs, family everything is tied to this city,” another user commented.

“It’s extremely worrying to see what’s happening in Delhi. It’s one of the largest health risks in the city.
But “leave Delhi” isn’t a solution that works for millions who can’t just relocate. By all means, protect your health – wear masks, use air purifiers, minimize outdoor exposure during peak pollution days. But let’s also channel this frustration into demanding accountability from those whose job it is to fix this,” a third user reacted.