In the Indian capital, air quality has once again deteriorated, causing discomfort and health issues for local residents. According to CNN, the air pollution problem in Delhi has become so acute that the Red Fort, a renowned architectural monument, has darkened with grime, symbolizing the worsening ecological situation and sparking discontent among citizens who are taking to the streets in protest.
“I just want to breathe normally again,” shared 33-year-old Sophie while participating in a protest at India Gate earlier this month. “It seems that the authorities are unwilling to address this problem,” she added, standing among protesters wearing masks and using nebulizers.
Since 1996, various governments in Delhi have attempted to find solutions to combat pollution, but decades later, the situation remains critical, especially at this time of year when cold air traps smoke from fireworks, the burning of agricultural waste, and intense urban traffic.
The context of the fight against pollution in India sharply contrasts with similar efforts in China, where years of investment in air purification have yielded tangible results.
The New Delhi government, led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), is taking steps to improve the situation and launched costly but ineffective cloud-seeding experiments last month.
According to IQAir data, pollution levels in New Delhi reach “hazardous” levels, regularly placing the city at the top of the world for poor air quality.
“Imagine the impact on children’s lungs,” comments Dr. Vandana Prasad, a pediatrician who participated in the protests. “Children have to go to school in such conditions, and even masks are not recommended for children under 12,” she added.
“We are essentially harming our children.”
Unsuccessful attempts at cloud seeding
At the end of October, planes flew over Delhi, spraying chemicals for cloud seeding in hopes of rain.
Although India has previously used this technology to increase precipitation in other regions, it has never been applied to combat pollution. This has become part of the costly promise of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who came to power earlier this year.
“I want to inform the residents of Delhi that the government has installed smog-fighting devices on high-rises, conducted dust control measures, and we are monitoring construction,” said Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa.
However, he noted that “the damage done over ten years cannot be corrected in seven months,” pointing to the previous government.
According to Manindra Agarwal, director of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) in Kanpur, who worked with the government on the cloud seeding project, three attempts at cloud seeding last month were unsuccessful due to a lack of moisture.
According to scientists, sufficient humidity in the atmosphere is necessary for successful cloud seeding. On the day of the tests, humidity was only about 15%, Agarwal reported.
Two more tests were planned but were canceled due to insufficient humidity, according to information from IIT Kanpur.
On October 20, Delhi was enveloped in smog after the Diwali celebrations when residents set off fireworks. In response to the deteriorating air quality, the Delhi government approved cloud seeding despite experts' warnings about low chances of success.
“Effective cloud seeding requires specific conditions that are usually lacking during the cold and dry winter months in Delhi,” experts pointed out in a letter to the environment minister.
“Even if the clouds are suitable, the dry atmosphere can evaporate any precipitation that forms before it reaches the ground,” noted the letter from the Indian Meteorological Department and other organizations.
“This is essentially the worst way to combat air pollution,” said M. Rajivaan, a former secretary of the Ministry of Earth Sciences, adding that even successful seeding can only temporarily reduce pollution without addressing the root problem.
CNN reached out to the Chief Minister of Delhi and the Environment Minister for comments.
The issue with the Red Fort
The urgency of the pollution problem in Delhi is evident from the condition of the walls of the Red Fort, which was built from red sandstone in the 1600s.
According to a study published earlier this year, black crusts of carbon and heavy metals present in the air are forming on the fort's 20-meter walls.
“In the context of deteriorating air quality in Delhi, studying historical monuments like the Red Fort is crucial for developing effective environmental protection strategies,” the study states.
“Naturally, the fort has darkened,” said 64-year-old Raman, who worked at the fort for four years. “How else could it be, given the level of pollution? Just one day outside, and you come home, wash up, and see how much black dirt comes off you.”
“I remember how the Red Fort looked during my first trip to Delhi about 30 years ago — it was significantly redder, more like the color of an apple. Now that apple has rotted,” added Raman.
Earlier this month, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court of India requesting that air pollution be declared a “public health emergency” and urging the court to oversee measures taken to combat pollution.
The petition, filed on behalf of lifestyle expert Luke Coutinho, who leads Modi's Fit India movement, accuses the government of ineffective action against industrial pollution and insufficient funding for programs to reduce transportation emissions.
“Temporary measures, such as mist sprayers and artificial rain tests, can only yield symbolic results but do not address the root of the problem,” the petition argues.
According to reports, millions of deaths in India over the past three years have been linked to air pollution. The 2025 World Air Quality Report states that in 2023, India accounted for nearly 30% of all global pollution-related deaths.
“Life expectancy is reduced by 5–10 years, but the government is taking no action,” says Dr. Prasad, a pediatrician who sees children in her clinic with “persistent coughs.”
She also emphasizes the importance of personal responsibility. “My neighbors just had a baby, and they set off fireworks to celebrate. I would like to tell them that at least for your child's sake, you shouldn't do that,” she shares with CNN.
The protest at India Gate did not last long. Participants, including women and children, were detained for lacking a permit for the demonstration. Some reported being forcibly placed in police vehicles and released on the outskirts of Delhi. CNN's requests for comments were directed to the Delhi police.
Last week, air pollution levels in Delhi worsened from “very poor” to “severe,” prompting the government to take additional measures to control pollution as part of its Action Plan.
As part of these measures, schools up to the 5th grade are operating in a “hybrid” mode: some classes are held online, while others are in-person. All non-essential construction has been halted, and the most polluting vehicles are banned from the roads during the implementation of these measures.
Protesters claim they have repeatedly reached out to the Chief Minister of Delhi requesting a meeting, but all their requests have been denied. They say that the government's indifference has forced them to take to the streets, and they are not going to give up.
“We are protesting because it is our duty to speak out,” noted Dr. Prasad during one of the protests this month. “I hope the government listens.”
