Ravi, 24, a resident of Chengalraopeta in One Town area, wakes up as early as 5.30 a.m. and switches on an air purifier placed beside the bed on which his 48-year-old mother is sleeping. Ravi’s mother has been experiencing respiratory problems, which the family believes have been aggravated due to the worsening air pollution in the area.The family has been living in the area for decades, and since the elderly and children began to suffer from respiratory issues, the family members have started taking precautions. They maintain door meshes and have installed air purifiers to prevent the pollution from entering the house and worsening their health conditions.For residents of the South Assembly constituency in Visakhapatnam, especially around Old Post Office, Kurupam Market, and Chengalraopeta, it is an uncomfortable description of their everyday reality.Although the city – home to beaches, hills, lush valleys, and colonial-era architecture – boasts an image of a happening city, a walk through the narrow lanes of the South Assembly constituency offers a different picture as residents often complain about the air feeling heavy, making breathing uncomfortable. The pollution is not merely about visible dust settling on roads, vehicles and buildings. Residents say it has become an invisible presence inside their homes and a constant source of anxiety over its possible impact on their health.“Besides respiratory issues, other problems such as eye strain, respiratory ailments, cough and cold are consistently reported in the locality. We believe they are due to dust pollution, particularly coal and iron ore,” Ravi explains.