Popular television anchor and DJ Nikhil Chinapa has highlighted the alarming air pollution crisis in Delhi through a stark social media post. The celebrity shared a worrying glimpse of the capital's dense smog in the early hours of the morning, voicing serious concerns about travel disruptions and flight safety.
Delhi's Smog-Filled Night Captured on Camera
Nikhil Chinapa took to Instagram to post a video from the streets of Delhi around 2:15 a.m.. In the clip, he revealed he had a flight to Goa scheduled for 5:30 a.m. but was deeply uncertain if it would be able to depart. The video captured an extremely thick haze enveloping the city, severely reducing visibility.
"It’s 2:15 in the morning in Delhi, and we are supposed to fly to Goa at 5:30 in the morning, and we are not sure if the plane would take off or not," Chinapa said in the video. He then pointed his camera towards his car's headlights, which were struggling to penetrate the dense blanket of smog. When someone off-camera shouted, "It won't," Nikhil laughed and replied, "We will see."
He captioned the post, "Delhi weather. Not sure if we’ll make it to Goa. Let’s see."
From Doubt to Departure: The Airport Update
After eventually making his way to the airport, Chinapa continued to provide updates to his followers. In one Instagram Story, he humorously wrote, "Trying to find the plane," underscoring the continued poor visibility. Fortunately, he soon shared a follow-up picture of the aircraft with the caption, "There we go," indicating that his flight was proceeding despite the challenging conditions.
This real-time documentation by a public figure has put a relatable face to the recurring environmental and public health issue that grips Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) every year.
Who is Nikhil Chinapa?
On the professional front, Nikhil Chinapa is a renowned television host and DJ. He began his career in 1999 as a contestant on the MTV VJ Hunt. He went on to host several popular shows including ‘MTV Select,’ ‘Rock On,’ ‘Splitsvilla,’ and ‘India’s Got Talent.’
He has also dabbled in acting, appearing in the Indian adaptation of the sitcom Friends, titled Hello Friends. In the show, which ran for one season, he played the character Vikram, inspired by Ross Geller from the original series.
Chinapa's recent post transcends a mere travel update; it serves as a potent visual testament to the severe air quality crisis that disrupts daily life, poses health risks, and impacts transportation in India's capital.
