Gasping for breath in the city’s toxic air, Gurgaonwallahs head for the hills

For travel freaks, the mantra is ‘when in doubt, vacation’. But for many Gurgaonwallahs, a quick vacation is now not a matter of luxury, but a necessity. The smog that has been covering NCR since Diwali has people concerned for their health and many are running off to hill stations in search of some fresh air.
Disgusted with toxic air, Gurgaon is packing its bags
Sonica Singh, a Sector 43-based home baker, says, "My family left for Kasauli on November 1 because of the heavily polluted air after Diwali.My six-year-old daughter and I had developed throat irritation. The air was so clean and fresh in Kasauli and the difference it made was obvious as our throat problems disappeared. Thinking that the smog would clear out in a few days, we came back on Friday. But the moment we were back in Gurgaon, the same health problems resurfaced. I have bought a mask for my daughter and have not let her go out of the house. Her school starts today and I am dreading sending her out. I wish we could have stayed in Kasauli longer. But work and other responsibilities didn’t allow us, and we had to come back to this gas chamber of a city."
Jessica Walia, a 21-year-old fashion communication student, left for Mumbai to spend time at Lonavala where her relatives own a cottage. "I could not breathe properly in Gurgaon. There was a constant burning sensation in my eyes. I couldn’t drive properly because of that either. I felt suffocated to breathe here. In Lonavala, I can breathe properly and am planning to stay here till mid-November. There is a nip in the air and the air is very fresh. I enjoy my walks as all my allergies, basically caused due to air pollution, are gone,” says the DLF Phase 4 resident.
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Anuraag Mehta, a law student, could feel the air quality deteriorating on the night of Diwali itself, as he found it difficult to breathe properly. "My family left for Mussoorie the day after Diwali – a trip we had been meaning to take in mid-November. We were simply disgusted with the pollution around and our inability to enjoy Diwali because of ailments that got aggravated. Not only was the air in Mussoorie cleaner, one could notice the stark difference by just looking at the clear sky at night. I regret returning to Gurgaon. Even on Friday, people were bursting crackers. Can you imagine the insensitivity? If the air quality doesn’t get better, I will consider leaving the city once again for a few days, as health is my priority," says the DLF Phase 1 resident.
Hill stations are a hit: Travel agents
Travel agents in the city are being inundated with demands of small and quick getaways, with Lansdowne, Kasol, Mcleodganj and Rishikesh being the most popular destinations. Rohit Garhwal, AVP, sales & operations, TravelTriangle.com, tells us, "The smog has got people scared of stepping outside. They want to stay indoors to avoid the smoke and thus, are planning a quick getaway from the city for a while. We have seen a sudden rise of about 30% in our customer queries and bookings for even not-so-well-known destinations around Delhi, like Mukteshwar, Chakrata, Dhanaulti, Tirthan, Parashar Lake, etc. These vacations are economical and do not require tedious planning."
Dimple Muchhal, partner, Travel De Planet, says, "There has certainly been a spike in travel bookings from Gurgaon. Senior citizens are coming to us wanting to leave the city because of the smog, and they are booking trips to nearby hill stations. And then there are families who had been postponing their trips, but are now keen to travel because the air in NCR is so polluted."
Karan Jain, co-founder, Revv, a car-rental company, says, "People usually rent a car from us to go on quick and nearby getaways. We’ve seen a 20-30% hike in our orders in the last one week. Though we don’t ask our customers the purpose of renting a car, one can easily connect it to the smog outside that has people leaving the city for few days."