Pollution Exodus: Noida Families Abandon Homes for Health
In a disturbing trend sweeping through the National Capital Region, multiple families are making the painful decision to abandon their Noida homes after experiencing severe health complications directly linked to the region's toxic air pollution. The exodus highlights a growing public health emergency that is forcing residents to choose between their livelihoods and their well-being.
Family Health Crisis Forces Relocation
Amit Singh, a 40-year-old Mercedes-Benz sales head, recently moved his entire family from their long-term home in Noida's Homes 121 after his wife Akanksha suffered devastating health consequences. Originally from Mumbai, Akanksha developed severe migraines and experienced a mild heart attack following childbirth in 2023.
"We tried to figure out the root cause and concluded in discussions with our doctor that it was pollution," Singh explained. "Since she is from Mumbai, she could not take the pollution here. It showed in her health." The family, with roots in Varanasi, watched as Akanksha's health dramatically improved during an extended stay in Mumbai from Diwali 2024 until March this year, ultimately prompting their permanent relocation to Lucknow.
Singh, whose job involves extensive travel, found Lucknow comparable to any Tier 1 city and made the difficult choice prioritizing family health over geographical convenience.
Elderly Residents Adopt Seasonal Migration
The pollution problem isn't limited to young families. KK Jain, a 64-year-old resident of Noida Sector 34, has endured severe winter pollution for over two decades. His recent visit to his son in Chennai revealed startling health improvements that have changed his lifestyle permanently.
"I now plan to spend a couple of months in Chennai every year after Diwali to avoid the harsh air quality of Noida and Delhi," Jain stated. He expressed pessimism about any imminent solution, noting "there is neither urgency, nor collective action to make public health a priority" in the NCR.
Similarly, octogenarian Umesh Sharma from Sector 122 revealed that his wife Malti (80) now relocates to Hyderabad annually post-Diwali to stay with their daughter and escape the peak pollution season. "She has severe health issues related to pollution. If she stays back, we have to hospitalize her," Sharma told reporters.
Professional Workers Join the Exodus
The pollution crisis is affecting professionals across age groups and occupations. Anoop Kumar from Greater Noida recently purchased property in Dehradun for permanent relocation to a "healthier environment." Rajat Bhatia, an investment banker who lived in Vasant Kunj, has already moved to Dehradun after developing breathing problems over recent years.
Shalini Singh, a 42-year-old graphic designer based in Noida, represents another concerning case. She has suffered annual breathing issues and throat infections every year after Diwali and is now planning her departure from the city.
"I could not figure out why I have been unwell in the last couple of years. With work being my priority, I hardly focused on my health," she confessed. "One day, it struck me that it's not the age, but air pollution of Noida that is leading to allergies and health issues I'm facing. So, I'm thinking of moving out of the city."
The growing pattern of pollution-driven migration underscores a critical urban health crisis that shows no signs of abatement, forcing residents to make life-altering decisions to protect their fundamental right to health.
