The Poison We Breathe

Environmental pollution is a growing threat to health worldwide. In Kashmir, like much of the world, it is a crisis that demands urgent attention.

- Sahil Jahangir Mir

In every breath we take and every drop of water we drink, pollution quietly spreads its toxic grip. It is no longer a distant worry, a problem for the future.

It is here, now, affecting billions globally.

And places like Kashmir, where the land and air have nurtured generations, are succumbing to harmful pollutants.

Pollution, in all its forms, is an invisible killer: pervasive, urgent, and often overlooked.

Across the globe, environmental pollution is responsible for around 13 million deaths every year, a staggering figure that paints a grim picture of the health crisis we are all facing.

The very air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we consume, and even the sounds and lights that surround us, all carry hidden dangers. These dangers, though often invisible to the naked eye, silently erode our health, dignity, and the beauty of the world around us.

Kashmir, known for its pristine valleys and cool mountain breezes, is not immune to the ravages of pollution. The air, once crisp and pure, is now tainted with the fumes of vehicles, industrial waste, and the burning of fossil fuels. This is not just an issue in Srinagar but in many towns and villages where the impacts of urbanization are beginning to show.

The fine particulate matter in the air—small enough to enter the lungs and bloodstream—poses a severe risk to health. It causes respiratory diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and even lung cancer.