As winter approaches, Delhi is once again grappling with a significant rise in air pollution, which has led to a surge in respiratory illnesses.
According to Dr. Rajesh Chawla, senior consultant in respiratory diseases at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, the city's air pollution levels are increasing earlier than usual this year, causing a 10 to 15% rise in patients suffering from respiratory conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Many of these patients are experiencing acute exacerbations, resulting in higher hospital admissions, reported NDTV.
Dr. Chawla highlighted that the growing pollution is triggering more frequent respiratory attacks, driving up the demand for medications to control asthma and COPD. Despite precautions taken by residents, such as sealing windows and doors, infection rates have also spiked due to the toxic air quality.
"This year, pollution levels are rising faster, leading to a 10 to 15% increase in respiratory cases, with many patients needing hospitalisation due to worsening symptoms," said Dr. Chawla. "As the pollution worsens, so does the demand for treatments to manage these conditions."
Meanwhile, the Delhi government has pointed fingers at neighboring states, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, accusing them of failing to curb stubble burning, which is contributing to the sharp decline in air quality across the National Capital Region (NCR). Chief Minister Atishi Marlena stressed that the ongoing pollution crisis has been exacerbated by the lack of action in these states, which are largely governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
As pollution continues to rise, experts and officials are calling for urgent measures to mitigate its impact on public health.