Air pollution in parts of India and Pakistan has been likened to witnessing a dystopian movie. India's capital Delhi has been blanketed in a thick layer of smog, with the city's residents complaining of choking and stinging eyes. In neighbouring Pakistan, Lahore has also recorded sky-high air pollution in recent weeks. On today's episode, Sumi Somaskanda hears from Devina Gupta about what it's like to be living in Delhi at the moment. And Dr Gary Fuller (Imperial College London) explains the impact severe air pollution can have on our health, from birth through to our final years. The Global Story brings you trusted insights from BBC journalists worldwide. We want your ideas to help us tell #TheGlobalStory. Email us at theglobalstory@bbc.com You can also message us or leave a voice note via WhatsApp on +44 330 123 9480. Producers: Alice Aylett Roberts, Richard Moran and Beth Timmins Sound engineer: Mike Regaard Assistant editor: Sergi Forcada Freixas Senior news editor: Sara Wadeson
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Hello, I'm Sumi Summaskanda from the BBC World Service.
This is the global story today.
The smog surging to dangerous levels in India and Pakistan.
Fires, cars and industrial pollution, all factors causing a huge smog cloud across South Asia.
It's now so big it can be seen from space.
In today's episode, we find out how the quality of the air we breathe contributes directly to millions of deaths worldwide.
Air pollution affects everyone.
So are governments acting fast enough to limit it and save lives?
With me today is Devina Gupta who has presented programs and covered business stories for the BBC.
And you're joining us from among the smog right now in Delhi, aren't you?
Yes, Sumi, I'm trying to breathe easy here.
Yeah, please do.
Trying very hard.
We're glad that we could have you on today, Divina.
And we also have Dr.
Gary Fuller from Imperial College London's medical department.
He studied air quality and its health impacts across the world.