As Delhi gasps under a thick, grey blanket of pollution, one man has managed to do what multimillion-dollar companies couldn’t breathe cleaner air without burning a hole in his pocket. In the middle of an air emergency where branded purifiers cost upwards of ₹15,000, a Delhi resident built his own DIY air purifier for just ₹2,000 and shockingly, it works.
A Breath of Fresh Air – Literally
Posting his innovation on Reddit under the username ‘shukrant25’, the Delhiite revealed how he used an exhaust fan, a HEPA filter, a few wires, and cardboard to create his homemade purifier. The total? A mere ₹1,965. Within 15 minutes, he says, his room’s Air Quality Index dropped from a deadly 380 to a clean 50. “It’s working better than my Philips purifier,” he claimed and the internet immediately went wild.
Internet Applauds the ‘Jugaad Hero’
Within hours, his post went viral, drawing applause from across the country. “This is the innovation India needs,” one user wrote. Others begged him to upload a tutorial so they could try the same. “Air purifiers aren’t rocket science… this guy just proved it,” said another. Many even promised to replicate the idea at home this weekend because in Delhi, clean air has become a luxury.
When the City Can’t Breathe, Innovation Steps In
Delhi’s pollution has once again hit severe levels, with AQI readings nearing 400 in several areas. From stubble burning to construction dust, the crisis has turned the city into a gas chamber. Yet amid all the gloom, this small act of creativity has given people hope that perhaps, the fight for cleaner air begins not with policies, but with people.
In a city where breathing feels like a privilege, one man’s ₹2,000 invention is helping Delhi breathe a little easier.