Security guards bear brunt of poor air in Gurugram

GURUGRAM: The large number of security guard professionals in the city, mostly deployed in the condominiums, commercial, and residential colonies, are facing a constant brunt of city's unhealthy air. Being mostly out in open during their duty hours, some of the guards highlighted that working in these conditions caused them immense discomfort. As per an official estimate, over 50,000 security guards are working in the city. The conditions are worse during the night time and early morning hours as mentioned by the guards.

Ratan Singh, a security official in Phase-1 area said, "Every guard has been complaining of the discomfort caused in these conditions. Guards who work in the night and morning shifts share their grievances the most. Problems like burning sensation in eyes, coughing, and in the dire situations difficulty to breathe are some of the major grievances shared by the guards."

Singh highlighted that most of his professional colleagues are still not aware of the unhealthy air they are inhaling. “Even as our job requires us to work in the open most of my colleagues do not wear masks during the shifts. Many of us still do not realize that the air we are breathing is very unhealthy even though we are showing symptoms of getting affected by it,” he said.

Shamsher Singh who works at a condominium in Phase-4 area mentioned that owing to many security guards taking leaves due to ill health, the agency will be providing the masks to the guards. Gurugram seems to be among the leaders in the NCR in having the worse air quality levels.

On Sunday again, lakhs of residents were forced to inhale the poisonous air as there was no improvement in pollution. There was a high concentration of particulate matter of 10 microns and more dangerous 2.5 microns.