Delhi has recorded more than 200,000 cases of acute respiratory illnesses in six state-run hospitals between 2022 and 2024, with over 30,000 patients requiring hospitalisation, the Indian federal government has said in parliament.
The surge in respiratory illnesses coincides with dangerously high pollution levels in the capital, particularly during winter months. Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI), which measures pollutants including PM2.5, has been more than 20 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organization, and stood at around 380 on Wednesday morning, according to the Safar app.
Delhi’s six major hospitals reported 67,054 cases in 2022, 69,293 in 2023, and 68,411 in 2024. The government noted that while an analysis suggests higher pollution levels are associated with increased emergency room visits, it cannot confirm a direct causal link.
The city’s toxic air is attributed to a combination of industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, dropping temperatures, low wind speeds, and seasonal crop stubble burning in neighbouring states.
The BBC has reported a growing influx of children seeking treatment for pollution-related illnesses in Delhi hospitals. Meanwhile, the Delhi High Court is set to hear a petition calling for urgent action to curb hazardous air pollution, following repeated concerns raised by India’s top court over air quality in the capital and surrounding areas.