Over 200,000 cases of acute respiratory illnesses were documented across six government hospitals in Delhi between 2022 and 2024, according to the federal government, as the Indian capital grapples with escalating pollution levels.
In a parliamentary statement, the government reported that more than 30,000 individuals suffering from respiratory ailments required hospitalization during this three-year period.
Delhi and its surrounding areas routinely face challenges stemming from hazardous air quality, particularly during the winter months.
For several weeks, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) – a measure of various pollutants, including PM2.5, a fine particulate matter known to compromise lung function – has exceeded the World Health Organization’s recommended limit by over 20 times.
The issue is multifaceted, attributed to a combination of industrial emissions, vehicular exhaust, declining temperatures, low wind speeds, and seasonal crop stubble burning in neighboring states.
The six major hospitals in Delhi recorded 67,054 cases of acute respiratory illness in 2022, 69,293 in 2023, and 68,411 in 2024.
“Analysis indicates a correlation between increased pollution levels and a rise in patients seeking emergency room care. However, the study design does not definitively confirm a causal relationship,” the government stated before parliament.
Delhi’s average AQI has repeatedly surpassed the “severe” threshold of 400 over the past decade, especially during winter, reaching levels that can endanger even healthy individuals and pose serious risks to those with pre-existing conditions.
As of Wednesday morning, Delhi’s average AQI stood at approximately 380, according to the government-backed Safar app.
The BBC reported last week on the increasing number of children being admitted to hospitals in Delhi and its suburbs due to illnesses linked to the city’s toxic air.
The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear a petition on Wednesday, urging the implementation of immediate measures to mitigate the hazardous air pollution.
In recent years, India’s highest court has also voiced concerns regarding the air quality in Delhi and its surrounding regions.
Follow BBC News India on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter and Facebook.
South Africa complete the joint highest chase in the history of one-day internationals in India as they passed a target of 359 to win by four wickets in Naya Raipur.
Investigations continue into a fire last week at the Wang Fuk Court housing complex, which killed at least 159 people.
Residents are being urged to complete a survey about proposals to address air pollution.
The ban was primarily introduced to stop government employees from drinking during work hours.
The order to make the registration mandatory had led to a major backlash from several cyber experts.