大象传媒

Imagine waking up in the morning and going outside to discover that the air is so toxic that it makes your eyes water and can make it hard to breathe. This is happening to millions of people in South Asia right now, especially across areas including Lahore in Pakistan and Delhi in India, and it鈥檚 due to a thick smog that can be seen from space.

鈥淵ou can taste it. You can smell it. You can feel it in your throat,鈥� says Nimisha in Delhi. 鈥淚t鈥檚 captured all your senses.鈥�

Residents in both cities discuss the difficulties of trying to go about everyday life while negotiating lockdowns and also trying to get food and continuing to work.

鈥淵ou cannot go outside,鈥� says Shahid in Lahore. 鈥淔or the last week or so we have closed our windows.鈥�

We also hear from three students aged 13-22 about the impact on their education, as well as their mental and physical health.

鈥淓verything is so grey and bleak,鈥� says 17 year-old Aahee in Delhi. 鈥淚 can鈥檛 even see the Sun anymore. And not even five minutes in my throat starts burning, my eyes start burning. I can鈥檛 even go out without having to wear a mask.鈥�

Hosted by Mark Lowen, with conversations by Lukwesa Burak and Mark Lowen.

A Boffin Media production with producer Sue Nelson in partnership with the 大象传媒 OS team, including producers Iqra Farooq and Nimrat Ahluwalia.

(Photo: Smog in Lahore, Pakistan - 14 Nov 2024. Credit: RAHAT DAR/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock)