On Tuesday, Delhi’s air quality remained in the hazardous ‘severe plus’ category, with the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting an alarming 494 at 6 am. The capital city continues to be shrouded in a dense layer of smog, a dangerous mix of smoke and fog, which has led to poor visibility and serious health risks. Experts have warned that prolonged exposure to such hazardous air can result in heart diseases, respiratory problems, and a decrease in life expectancy.
In response to the mounting air pollution crisis, a popular Indian-Chinese restaurant chain, Hong’s Kitchen, has taken a unique initiative to help combat the rising pollution levels. The restaurant has unveiled a series of anti-pollution billboards, branded as ‘Soup-er Hero,’ aimed at reducing smog in Delhi. These innovative installations have been set up in some of the city’s most polluted “choke points” identified by experts.
View this post on Instagram
The installations feature giant soup bottles equipped with cutting-edge anti-smog mist systems. Behind each soup bottle, a ‘smog gun’ is installed, which releases a fine mist of recycled water. This mist binds with harmful PM 2.5 particles—microscopic pollutants that can penetrate the bloodstream through the lungs—making them heavier and causing them to settle, thus reducing the concentration of pollutants in the air.
These anti-smog billboards are placed strategically at key locations around Delhi and its neighboring areas, including Gurugram, Moti Bagh, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College, Laxmi Nagar, Nehru Place, and Noida. The initiative also includes bus shelters and custom sculptures that contribute to improving air quality.
Hong’s Kitchen is also supporting the environment through a charitable component of this initiative. The restaurant has pledged to donate INR 10 from every soup bottle sold to the Swechha Foundation, an NGO dedicated to tackling air and water pollution and promoting sustainability in India.
With pollution levels in Delhi reaching hazardous levels, Hong’s Kitchen’s unique approach of combining public art and technology in an attempt to combat air pollution is a noteworthy effort. The restaurant’s initiative aims not only to raise awareness about air quality issues but also actively contribute to the reduction of pollutants in the city’s air.
