New Delhi, Nov. 11 -- As Delhi's air-layered by thick smog-burns citizens' eyes and throats, two things are in overdrive: an exodus of employees escaping to the hills, and skyrocketing sales of air purifiers for those sticking to home turf.

Professionals are spending thousands of rupees to set up makeshift workations in places like Himachal Pradesh-where the air quality index (AQI) hovers between 90 and 150-even as employers greenlight these unusual remote arrangements.

Those staying back in the capital are splurging on air purifiers and masks as Delhi's AQI crossed a 'breath-taking' 390-plus on Monday morning. Employers, too, are relaxing return-to-office rules to safeguard health. Even Delhi's government has tweaked office timings for...