More than 80% of residents in Delhi-NCR surveyed reported experiencing persistent health issues, including chronic cough, debilitating fatigue, and respiratory irritation due to polluted air, according to a survey.
The SmyttenPulse AI Survey revealed that 68.3% have sought medical assistance in the past year specifically for pollution-related ailments — a healthcare crisis in the making.
As many as 76.4% of respondents have drastically reduced outdoor time, turning homes into virtual prisons as families hide indoors from the toxic haze, the survey claimed.
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The comprehensive study of 4,000 residents across Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Faridabad paints a devastating portrait of a city under siege - not from external forces, but from the very air its citizens breathe, the consumer research firm SmyttenPulse AI said.
The survey also found that 79.8% are either considering relocation or have already left, with 33.6% seriously planning their departure, 31% actively considering it, and 15.2% having already relocated.
As many as 37% have already taken concrete steps-visiting properties in other cities, enquiring with schools, or making family decisions about leaving, it said.
The preferred destinations tell their own story: hilly areas, small towns with fewer factories, anywhere outside Delhi-NCR, places where breathing doesn't require monitoring an app, the survey said.
Pollution has imposed an economic burden on middle-class families as 85.3 per cent reported increased household spending due to pollution, with 41.6% experiencing significant financial strain, it added.
Swagat Sarangi, Co-Founder, SmyttenPulse AI, said, "The study shows that prolonged poor air quality is reshaping everyday life - influencing health behaviour, spending patterns and long-term living decisions."
"It is no longer just an environmental concern, but a factor impacting lifestyle and quality of life, underscoring the need for sustained, data-backed and collaborative action."
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