April 21, 2026

Rahul Gandhi has demanded a parliamentary discussion on Delhi’s severe air pollution, labeling it a health emergency. He criticized Prime Minister Modi’s silence and the government’s lack of an urgent, enforceable action plan. Gandhi met with concerned mothers, highlighting their fears for children breathing toxic air and urging accountability for clean air. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (File photo) NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday urged the government to hold a detailed discussion in Parliament on Delhi’s worsening air pollution, calling it a “health emergency” and questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the crisis.Gandhi said the Centre must introduce a strict and enforceable action plan to tackle toxic air levels and asked why the government was showing “no urgency or accountability”. He also met a group of mothers at his residence over concerns about pollution and shared a video of the interaction.Delhi Air Pollution Protest At India Gate Turns Violent Amid ‘Madvi Hidma Amar Rahe’ Slogans“Every mother I meet tells me the same thing: her child is growing up breathing toxic air. They are exhausted, scared and angry. Modi ji, India’s children are choking in front of us. How can you stay silent? Why does your government show no urgency, no plan, no accountability?” he wrote on X.“India needs an immediate, detailed Parliament debate on air pollution and a strict, enforceable action plan to tackle this health emergency,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said, adding, “Our children deserve clean air – not excuses and distractions.”Delhi has been battling very poor air quality for the past 15 days, with forecasts by the Air Quality Early Warning System suggesting conditions will remain in the ‘very poor’ range in the coming week.As pollution levels plummet into the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories, doctors have advised regular health screening to detect early signs of pollution-linked illnesses, especially among vulnerable groups such as children, smokers, asthma patients and those with respiratory or cardiac issues. Experts say toxic air can trigger airway inflammation, reduce lung function and worsen existing diseases.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCongress, BJP Face Off Over Kumar Ketkar’s Controversial Remark CIA, Mossad Helped Modi Win in 2014Tejas Is The Safest, Says HAL Chief, Rejecting All Concerns After Dramatic Dubai Air Show AccidentPakistan Army General Warns Of Hybrid-To-Full War As Pakistan Reshapes Military Power Under MunirPakistan Erupts As Imran Khan’s Son Claims ‘No Proof Of Life’ Amid CM Afridi’s Jail-Side Protest’Darkest Times’: Imran Khan’s Sister Calls Out Pakistan Govt, Compares Asim Munir To Adolf HitlerIndia Must Prepare For Violent Future As CDS Chauhan Says Even One Failure Could Prove CatastrophicIndia Is a Key Ally, Cyprus Assures Strong Push to Finalise India–EU FTA TalksImran Khan Health Rumour: PTI Holds Sit In Outside Adiala Jail, KP CM Sohail Afridi Stages ProtestRam Madhav Challenges ‘No-Religion’ Narrative in White Collar Terror DebateAustralia Says India Is Now A Leading Global Power, Credits PM Modi For Transforming World Dynamics123PhotostoriesAre you taking your supplements wrong? Common supplement mistakes that everyone is making (and how to avoid them)Your soul temple: 6 powerful temples to visit in India based on personality typesLike ‘Stranger Things’? ‘Karthikeya’, ‘Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada’, ‘Awe!’, here are other Telugu films to watchHyderabad’s Skyroot Unveils Vikram-1: India’s First Private Orbital Rocket Ready for LaunchJennifer Lawrence’s parenting lessons that can teach modern moms how to raise kids without losing themselvesYour Enemy Planet According To Your Date of BirthThis Dharmendra record has stayed unchallenged for 50 Years- Even Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth haven’t matched it7 foods that should never be given to dogsBest friends vs. toxic friends: How to explain the difference to teensCommon nutritional deficiencies seen in kids123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayNew Labour CodeWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingJayden Daniels InjuryCyclone Ditwah ImpactBengaluru techieFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedAyesha CurryFuzzy ZoellerCristiano Ronaldo10 Greatest Thanksgiving Moments in NFL historyGabrielle UnionVanessa Bryant

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Rahul Gandhi has demanded a parliamentary discussion on Delhi’s severe air pollution, labeling it a health emergency. He criticized Prime Minister Modi’s silence and the government’s lack of an urgent, enforceable action plan. Gandhi met with concerned mothers, highlighting their fears for children breathing toxic air and urging accountability for clean air. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (File photo) NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday urged the government to hold a detailed discussion in Parliament on Delhi’s worsening air pollution, calling it a “health emergency” and questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the crisis.Gandhi said the Centre must introduce a strict and enforceable action plan to tackle toxic air levels and asked why the government was showing “no urgency or accountability”. He also met a group of mothers at his residence over concerns about pollution and shared a video of the interaction.Delhi Air Pollution Protest At India Gate Turns Violent Amid ‘Madvi Hidma Amar Rahe’ Slogans“Every mother I meet tells me the same thing: her child is growing up breathing toxic air. They are exhausted, scared and angry. Modi ji, India’s children are choking in front of us. How can you stay silent? Why does your government show no urgency, no plan, no accountability?” he wrote on X.“India needs an immediate, detailed Parliament debate on air pollution and a strict, enforceable action plan to tackle this health emergency,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said, adding, “Our children deserve clean air – not excuses and distractions.”Delhi has been battling very poor air quality for the past 15 days, with forecasts by the Air Quality Early Warning System suggesting conditions will remain in the ‘very poor’ range in the coming week.As pollution levels plummet into the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories, doctors have advised regular health screening to detect early signs of pollution-linked illnesses, especially among vulnerable groups such as children, smokers, asthma patients and those with respiratory or cardiac issues. Experts say toxic air can trigger airway inflammation, reduce lung function and worsen existing diseases.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCongress, BJP Face Off Over Kumar Ketkar’s Controversial Remark CIA, Mossad Helped Modi Win in 2014Tejas Is The Safest, Says HAL Chief, Rejecting All Concerns After Dramatic Dubai Air Show AccidentPakistan Army General Warns Of Hybrid-To-Full War As Pakistan Reshapes Military Power Under MunirPakistan Erupts As Imran Khan’s Son Claims ‘No Proof Of Life’ Amid CM Afridi’s Jail-Side Protest’Darkest Times’: Imran Khan’s Sister Calls Out Pakistan Govt, Compares Asim Munir To Adolf HitlerIndia Must Prepare For Violent Future As CDS Chauhan Says Even One Failure Could Prove CatastrophicIndia Is a Key Ally, Cyprus Assures Strong Push to Finalise India–EU FTA TalksImran Khan Health Rumour: PTI Holds Sit In Outside Adiala Jail, KP CM Sohail Afridi Stages ProtestRam Madhav Challenges ‘No-Religion’ Narrative in White Collar Terror DebateAustralia Says India Is Now A Leading Global Power, Credits PM Modi For Transforming World Dynamics123PhotostoriesAre you taking your supplements wrong? Common supplement mistakes that everyone is making (and how to avoid them)Your soul temple: 6 powerful temples to visit in India based on personality typesLike ‘Stranger Things’? ‘Karthikeya’, ‘Ekkadiki Pothavu Chinnavada’, ‘Awe!’, here are other Telugu films to watchHyderabad’s Skyroot Unveils Vikram-1: India’s First Private Orbital Rocket Ready for LaunchJennifer Lawrence’s parenting lessons that can teach modern moms how to raise kids without losing themselvesYour Enemy Planet According To Your Date of BirthThis Dharmendra record has stayed unchallenged for 50 Years- Even Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Amitabh Bachchan and Rajinikanth haven’t matched it7 foods that should never be given to dogsBest friends vs. toxic friends: How to explain the difference to teensCommon nutritional deficiencies seen in kids123Hot PicksDelhi AQI TodayNew Labour CodeWorld NewsGold rate todaySilver rate todayPublic Holidays NovemberBank Holidays NovemberTop TrendingJayden Daniels InjuryCyclone Ditwah ImpactBengaluru techieFortnite Chapter 7 LeakedAyesha CurryFuzzy ZoellerCristiano Ronaldo10 Greatest Thanksgiving Moments in NFL historyGabrielle UnionVanessa Bryant


'Children are choking': Rahul Gandhi questions PM Modi on Delhi pollution; asks how can you stay silent?

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (File photo)

NEW DELHI: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday urged the government to hold a detailed discussion in Parliament on Delhi’s worsening air pollution, calling it a “health emergency” and questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s silence on the crisis.Gandhi said the Centre must introduce a strict and enforceable action plan to tackle toxic air levels and asked why the government was showing “no urgency or accountability”. He also met a group of mothers at his residence over concerns about pollution and shared a video of the interaction.

Delhi Air Pollution Protest At India Gate Turns Violent Amid ‘Madvi Hidma Amar Rahe’ Slogans

“Every mother I meet tells me the same thing: her child is growing up breathing toxic air. They are exhausted, scared and angry. Modi ji, India’s children are choking in front of us. How can you stay silent? Why does your government show no urgency, no plan, no accountability?” he wrote on X.“India needs an immediate, detailed Parliament debate on air pollution and a strict, enforceable action plan to tackle this health emergency,” the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha said, adding, “Our children deserve clean air – not excuses and distractions.”Delhi has been battling very poor air quality for the past 15 days, with forecasts by the Air Quality Early Warning System suggesting conditions will remain in the ‘very poor’ range in the coming week.As pollution levels plummet into the ‘very poor’ and ‘severe’ categories, doctors have advised regular health screening to detect early signs of pollution-linked illnesses, especially among vulnerable groups such as children, smokers, asthma patients and those with respiratory or cardiac issues. Experts say toxic air can trigger airway inflammation, reduce lung function and worsen existing diseases.





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Representative image PAHALGAM: Routine care at a quiet medical outpost evaporated with a single phone call on April 22 last year. By dusk, the floor was slick with blood. Staff had processed 26 bodies and 17 wounded survivors. The one-storey facility was the thin line between life and death following the terrorist attack in Baisaran valley near Pahalgam.One year later, the line remains dangerously thin.Little has moved at Pahalgam civil hospital. Medical care still functions within five cramped rooms. Doctors consult outpatients while paramedics squeeze X-rays and ECGs into the same narrow footprint. Outside, three ambulances — an increase of exactly one vehicle since the massacre — sit on a patchy lawn. When rain falls, the ground turns to muck, choking the path to the entrance.The tragedy forced a grim improvisation. As reinforcements arrived from across south Kashmir, staff dragged beds into a hollow, unfinished three-storey building next door. They used the shell of a hall to stack the dead. Today, that building remains a concrete skeleton, stalled by bureaucratic gridlock while the primary clinic struggles to breathe.The facility’s limitations defy the scale of its responsibility. Pahalgam is no sleepy village. It is a global destination and a spiritual gateway. In 2024, Pahalgam hosted 11.9 lakh tourists and more than 5 lakh Amarnath pilgrims — many requiring treatment for high-altitude ailments. The hospital also serves 2 lakh residents of the area.A 2021 plan to upgrade the site to a 50-bed sub-district hospital exists only on paper. Sanctioned staff positions remain empty. The skeleton crew — one surgeon, one anaesthetist, one gynaecologist, and seven paramedics — routinely refers the critically ill to Govt Medical College in Anantnag, miles away.The delay is a game of finger-pointing. Health officials blame roads and buildings (R&B) department for the crawl of construction. R&B officials claim they are being starved of roughly Rs 4.3 crore. “We have added another storey,” an R&B official said. “Construction of a lift and interior work are pending. If health department releases funds, we can make the building operational within six months.”As another tourist season peaks and Amarnath Yatra looms, Pahalgam’s primary defence against tragedy remains five rooms and a promise. The hall that once held 26 bodies remains empty, waiting for the paint and power that never arrived. For now, the urgency of that April evening has been replaced by the slow rot of neglect.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar Was ‘Compromised’, BJP Controlled Him: Rahul Gandhi’s Big Bihar Claim In Tamil NaduPiyush Goyal Slams India-South Korea CEPA, Flags Need To Rewrite ‘Irrational’ Trade DealDelhi High Court Rejects Recusal Plea in Excise Policy Case; Judge Calls It “Catch-22” for HerselfUdhampur Bus Tragedy Kills 21; Political Row Erupts Over I-Pac In Bengal | WatchIndia, Ukraine Security Pact In Works? Zelenskyy Signals Big Move Amid Russia Ukraine WarUnmanned Mine Counter Measure Vessels Take Lead In Demining OperationsIndia-South Korea Mega Deal: PM Modi & Lee Jae Myung Target 50 Billion Trade, Boost TiesFire Erupts At Rajasthan’s HPCL Refinery Ahead Of PM Modi’s Launch EventNSA Doval Meets Top Saudi Leaders, Focus On Security And EnergyFact Check: No, Indian Navy Did NOT Detain Somali Pirates In Viral Video123Photostories8 condiments you should never keep back in the refrigerator once openedFrom two small spots in her MRI scan to losing 2 kgs in a month and following intermittent fasting, Shoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakar talk about her health3 signs of a loyal partner, as revealed by Gauranga DasThese are the only 5 nations in the world that begin with letter “D” and each tells a unique storyAre you a traveller who loves to buy gold? 5 largest gold-producing countries in the world where gold can be cheaperPriyanka and Rahul Gandhi spotted relishing Gelato: What is Gelato and how is it different from ice cream and other frozen desserts10 Vedic baby girl names that begin with letter VJitendra Kumar, Aniruddh Agarwal, Amol Parashar to Vipul Goyal: Actors who swapped engineering degrees for stardomWhy non-vegetarian thali has become cheaper than vegetarian thaliDoes your home breathe? 5 lessons to learn from the timeless beauty of Chettinad interiors123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingBan vs NZKanpur MurderAndhra Pradesh Bomb ExplodeKanpur Rape CaseTCS Nashik CaseJammu Bus AccidentAndhra Pradesh MurderLucknow Girl MurderTamil Nadu Firecracker Unit BlastJapan Earthquake

Representative image PAHALGAM: Routine care at a quiet medical outpost evaporated with a single phone call on April 22 last year. By dusk, the floor was slick with blood. Staff had processed 26 bodies and 17 wounded survivors. The one-storey facility was the thin line between life and death following the terrorist attack in Baisaran valley near Pahalgam.One year later, the line remains dangerously thin.Little has moved at Pahalgam civil hospital. Medical care still functions within five cramped rooms. Doctors consult outpatients while paramedics squeeze X-rays and ECGs into the same narrow footprint. Outside, three ambulances — an increase of exactly one vehicle since the massacre — sit on a patchy lawn. When rain falls, the ground turns to muck, choking the path to the entrance.The tragedy forced a grim improvisation. As reinforcements arrived from across south Kashmir, staff dragged beds into a hollow, unfinished three-storey building next door. They used the shell of a hall to stack the dead. Today, that building remains a concrete skeleton, stalled by bureaucratic gridlock while the primary clinic struggles to breathe.The facility’s limitations defy the scale of its responsibility. Pahalgam is no sleepy village. It is a global destination and a spiritual gateway. In 2024, Pahalgam hosted 11.9 lakh tourists and more than 5 lakh Amarnath pilgrims — many requiring treatment for high-altitude ailments. The hospital also serves 2 lakh residents of the area.A 2021 plan to upgrade the site to a 50-bed sub-district hospital exists only on paper. Sanctioned staff positions remain empty. The skeleton crew — one surgeon, one anaesthetist, one gynaecologist, and seven paramedics — routinely refers the critically ill to Govt Medical College in Anantnag, miles away.The delay is a game of finger-pointing. Health officials blame roads and buildings (R&B) department for the crawl of construction. R&B officials claim they are being starved of roughly Rs 4.3 crore. “We have added another storey,” an R&B official said. “Construction of a lift and interior work are pending. If health department releases funds, we can make the building operational within six months.”As another tourist season peaks and Amarnath Yatra looms, Pahalgam’s primary defence against tragedy remains five rooms and a promise. The hall that once held 26 bodies remains empty, waiting for the paint and power that never arrived. For now, the urgency of that April evening has been replaced by the slow rot of neglect.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosNitish Kumar Was ‘Compromised’, BJP Controlled Him: Rahul Gandhi’s Big Bihar Claim In Tamil NaduPiyush Goyal Slams India-South Korea CEPA, Flags Need To Rewrite ‘Irrational’ Trade DealDelhi High Court Rejects Recusal Plea in Excise Policy Case; Judge Calls It “Catch-22” for HerselfUdhampur Bus Tragedy Kills 21; Political Row Erupts Over I-Pac In Bengal | WatchIndia, Ukraine Security Pact In Works? Zelenskyy Signals Big Move Amid Russia Ukraine WarUnmanned Mine Counter Measure Vessels Take Lead In Demining OperationsIndia-South Korea Mega Deal: PM Modi & Lee Jae Myung Target 50 Billion Trade, Boost TiesFire Erupts At Rajasthan’s HPCL Refinery Ahead Of PM Modi’s Launch EventNSA Doval Meets Top Saudi Leaders, Focus On Security And EnergyFact Check: No, Indian Navy Did NOT Detain Somali Pirates In Viral Video123Photostories8 condiments you should never keep back in the refrigerator once openedFrom two small spots in her MRI scan to losing 2 kgs in a month and following intermittent fasting, Shoaib Ibrahim and Dipika Kakar talk about her health3 signs of a loyal partner, as revealed by Gauranga DasThese are the only 5 nations in the world that begin with letter “D” and each tells a unique storyAre you a traveller who loves to buy gold? 5 largest gold-producing countries in the world where gold can be cheaperPriyanka and Rahul Gandhi spotted relishing Gelato: What is Gelato and how is it different from ice cream and other frozen desserts10 Vedic baby girl names that begin with letter VJitendra Kumar, Aniruddh Agarwal, Amol Parashar to Vipul Goyal: Actors who swapped engineering degrees for stardomWhy non-vegetarian thali has become cheaper than vegetarian thaliDoes your home breathe? 5 lessons to learn from the timeless beauty of Chettinad interiors123Hot PicksIran warDelimitation Bill DefeatPurple cap winnerOrange cap winnerIPL Points TablePublic holidays April 2026Bank Holidays AprilTop TrendingBan vs NZKanpur MurderAndhra Pradesh Bomb ExplodeKanpur Rape CaseTCS Nashik CaseJammu Bus AccidentAndhra Pradesh MurderLucknow Girl MurderTamil Nadu Firecracker Unit BlastJapan Earthquake

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