'I can finally breathe': Delhi residents escape to beaches of Goa away from toxic air

Scores of Delhi residents were spotted in India's western resort state of Goa, taking escape vacations away from the city as the air quality in the national capital was declared 'severe plus' over the past week and a public health emergency was announced.

Goa's beaches are often seen occupied by tourists but the tourists had a good fraction of Delhi residents here as seen on Thursday (November 07).

A Delhi resident Vidya said that she felt that she was finally able to breathe after coming to Goa.

Anything above 401 is classified as 'severe'. Air pollution at that level can seriously affect those with existing respiratory illnesses and even those who are otherwise healthy. New Delhi's air quality index, last week, had crossed 500 on the scale and was declared 'severe plus'.

PM 2.5, or tiny particulate matter that is less than 2.5 microns in diameter, are considered particularly dangerous because they lodge deep in the lungs. PM 10 is another pollutant that is inhaled when people breathe through their mouths.