Delhi reports 200,000 cases of acute respiratory illness due to toxic air

Between 2022 and 2024, over 200,000 cases of acute respiratory conditions were reported across six government hospitals in Delhi, according to the federal government. During this period, more than 30,000 patients required hospitalization due to severe respiratory issues.

The capital city is grappling with persistent toxic air, particularly in winter months. Recently, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI), which tracks pollutants including PM2.5 particles that can damage lungs, has consistently exceeded 20 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organization.

The worsening air quality stems from multiple factors, including industrial emissions, vehicle pollution, cooler temperatures, low wind conditions, and seasonal crop stubble burning in nearby states.

Case numbers in Delhi's six main hospitals were reported as follows: 67,054 in 2022, 69,293 in 2023, and 68,411 in 2024. The government noted that "analysis suggests that rising pollution levels coincided with more patients visiting emergency departments; however, this cannot definitively prove a causal link."

Delhis average AQI has frequently exceeded the "severe" threshold of 400, particularly during winter, posing health risks even to healthy individuals and serious dangers for those with pre-existing conditions. On Wednesday morning, the average AQI in Delhi was approximately 380, according to the Safar app.

Reports indicate that hospitals across Delhi and its suburbs are seeing increasing numbers of children suffering from pollution-related illnesses. The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear a petition urging urgent measures to reduce hazardous air pollution. In recent years, India's Supreme Court has also expressed concerns over air quality in Delhi and surrounding areas.

Author: Sophia Brooks