Park regulars in New Delhi's Lodhi Garden say toxic pollution levels won't force them out

NEW DELHI (AP) — For many in New Delhi, one of the world’s most polluted cities, Lodhi Garden is an escape in the heart of India’s capital. Park regulars say they won’t let rising pollution levels deter them — even if they have to tweak their routine because of the smog.

The park is one of hundreds dotting the city. Those who love it say what makes it special is a combination of nature and other visitors — you’re never lonely even when you're alone.

For others, it’s the nostalgia for bygone times. Generations of the same family have walked the trail circling the park — a habit passed down, a habit that becomes tradition.

On any given day, retired bureaucrats walk in groups, discussing politics. Yoga practitioners meet for their dose of wellness and an aspiring marathon runner whizzes by. Young couples look for privacy behind trees while those more senior openly hold hands. On weekends, the park’s lawns spill over with picnickers.

But as a toxic blanket of smog engulfed the city this month and New Delhi’s air quality officially fell into the “severe” category, some of the park regulars shared how this has impacted their daily routine.

For over 20 years, Rajiv Sikri, 76, and Subodh Jain, 72, have been meeting in Lodhi Garden for a morning walk that kicks off their day.

“The pollution is worrying but how do you insulate yourself at home?” Sikri said. “We like to walk. One round or a little more than a round.”

They “chat and solve the world’s problems,” he jokes.

“What is the option,” Jain asks. “You can’t just sit at home and do nothing.”

Rajiv Gupta, 54, and his wife, Manisha Gupta, 50, say they have considered moving out of New Delhi, home to more than 33 million people.

Regulars for 15 years, the couple says the park has lost some of its “magnetic power” because of the pollution — Rajiv says they've had scratchy throats and breathing problems.

“We come in the morning for fresh air and we are unable to get fresh air,” he said. "What’s the charm of coming to such a beautiful park then?”

For Manisha, “seeing people of all ages being so active ... encourages me to be like them.” But she worries about their children and doesn't know "how to keep them safe from the pollution.”

The park has been part of 60-year-old Bashir Ahmad Mir's daily two-hour run and exercise routine for the past 10 years. But the carpet seller who moved to New Delhi from Kashmir says the pollution is now affecting his eyes.

“I have to continuously clean my eyes," he said. "I know the pollution is bad for me but I have no choice. Where do I go?”

Vanita Pathak, 55, who has been coming for the past 20 years, says she is not giving up and hopes the trees can help “fight the pollution.”

“We keep hearing (the) advisory to stay indoors but I do not feel that coming here is harmful,” she said.

Anita Gahtori says her in-laws stopped coming to the park since the start of the month, just after Diwali, the Hindu holiday when people traditionally shoot off fireworks and the city’s pollution levels spike.

“I will stop bringing my children," she now says, her 12-year-old daughter Sakshi by her side. "I worry for their health.”

Yoga teacher Ajay Chowdhary, 51, has been coming to the park every morning for more than 30 years — he says it's great for both his physical and mental wellbeing.

But on the days when the pollution is high, he tweaks his workout.

“We change the style of exercise," he said. "We do light exercises which do not involve deep breathing.”

A white-haired man, walking his three dogs on a leash and wearing a facemask, said he's been a regular at Lodhi Garden for more than 50 years and that it's the "most wonderful place one can come to."

“The pollution is a bothersome thing,” said Ajay, giving only his first name without explaining his reasons. "But you see it’s a habit. So it grows on you.”

A boy at the park, Agastya Shankar Laul, said he didn't think his mother, Charu Shankar, was worried about the pollution.

“Mom has given up,” Charu quipped. “I used to worry about it seven years ago. And year after year it’s just been the same story.”

At home, her air purifiers run all the time and she makes her own remedies against the pollution. But what really upsets her are the people in power who have done so little.

“Of course I’m angry, but that doesn’t mean I’m going to be locked up,” she said.

Yoga teacher Ajay Chowdhary, 51, stands beside his students, surrounded by smog in Lodhi Garden in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Bashir Ahmad Mir performs morning exercises surrounded by smog in Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Rajiv Sikri, right, and Subodh Jain take a morning walk in the smog-clad Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Charu Shankar jogs with her son Agastya Shankar Laul in Lodhi Gardens on a smoggy morning in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A crow rests on a bench on a smoggy morning in Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A man performs stretch exercises on a smog-filled morning in Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

A dog stretches on a slab of rock in Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Ajay, only one name given, walks his dogs in the smog-enveloped Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Charu Shankar stands with her son Agastya Shankar Laul in Lodhi Gardens on a smoggy morning in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Anita Gahtori plays badminton with her children Sakshi, right, and Devansh in the smog-enveloped Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Vanita Pathak wipes her tears as she gets emotional talking about her love for nature, in the smog-enveloped Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Bashir Ahmad Mir performs morning exercises surrounded by smog in Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Rajiv Gupta pets a dog with his wife Manisha Gupta seated beside him in the smog-enveloped Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Rajiv Sikri, left, and Subodh Jain take a morning walk in Lodhi Gardens in New Delhi, India, Friday, Nov. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Australia claimed a lead of 105 runs on the first innings and stretched its advantage to 158 at lunch Sunday on day four of the fourth cricket test against India.

After bowling India out for 369 in reply to the home side’s 474 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Australia was 53-2 in its second innings at lunch Sunday on a pitch that continued to offer sideways movement for India’s crafty seamers Jasprit Bumrah (1-18 off eight overs) and Mohammed Siraj (1-10 off seven).

Resuming on 358-9, India added 11 runs in 3.3 overs before Nitish Kumar Reddy (114) holed out to long-off off the bowling of spinner Nathan Lyon (3-96).

The 21-year-old Reddy added nine runs to his overnight score of 105 before he was the tenth wicket to fall. India was bowled out for 369, trailing Australia by 105 runs on the first innings.

Reddy, whose innings included 11 fours and one six, had celebrated with gusto in front of an adoring crowd of over 83,000 Saturday after reaching his century in a tense finale to the day’s play with nine wickets down.

Left-arm quick Mitchell Starc sent down 25 wicketless overs for 89 runs and is carrying what appears a rib complaint, which may place strain on Australia’s attack during India’s second innings.

Pace bowlers Pat Cummins (3-89) and Scott Boland (3-57) took three wickets each in India’s first innings.

Australia’s opening batter Sam Konstas, whose debut innings of 60 included six fours and two sixes in an audacious display of shot-making, fell for eight. The 19-year-old had no answer to a probing delivery from Bumrah which crashed into the stumps via a gap between bat and pad with the hosts at 20-1.

Dropped on two at leg gully off Bumrah’s bowling, opener Usman Khawaja continued to struggle and was bowled by an inswinger from Siraj for 21 to reduce Australia to 43-2.

Marnus Labuschagne was hit several times on the thigh and groin as he scrapped his way to an unbeaten 20 off 46 deliveries and Steve Smith was two not out off 21 balls. Australia’s 53 came off 25 overs in what was hardly a free-flowing opening session of play for the batting side.

The five-match series is level at 1-1. The fifth and final Australia-India test is scheduled to start on Jan. 3 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne plays a shot during play on the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Usman Khawaja, right, walks off the field as Indian players celebrate his wicket during play on the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Marnus Labuschagne hits a boundary during play on the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Sam Konstas, left, and Usman Khawaja walk out to bat during play on the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Nitish Kumar Reddy acknowledged the crowd as he walks off the field after losing his wicket during play on the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Nitish Kumar Reddy plays a shot during play on the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Mohammed Siraj,right, pats to applaud batting partner Nitish Kumar Reddy as they leave the field at the end of their innings during play on the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

India's Jasprit Bumrah cdAustralia's Sam Konstas during play on the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Sam Konstas walks off the field after losing his wicket during play on the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)

Australia's Sam Konstas plays a shot during play on the day four of the fourth cricket test between Australia and India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Australia, Sunday, Dec. 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Asanka Brendon Ratnayake)