Overview
- Official readings show Delhi’s Air Quality Index around 498–500, placing the city in the Central Pollution Control Board’s severe category.
- Paediatricians report pollution-triggered airway inflammation requiring oxygen support, including a three-year-old on high-flow nasal cannula without any detected infection.
- Doctors describe new or worsening conditions in children such as recurrent wheeze, adenotonsillar relapse, eczema flares, and reduced exercise tolerance during the current spike.
- Hospitals including Indraprastha Apollo and PSRI report a clear rise in elderly patients with cough, wheeze, chest tightness, viral illnesses, and asthma or COPD flare-ups, with outpatient visits up 30–40% in recent weeks.
- A LocalCircles survey finds 82% of residents report severe pollution-linked illnesses in close circles, with 73% worried about healthcare costs, as clinicians advise high-efficiency air purifiers, selective ventilation, well-fitted N95 masks, hydration, antioxidant-rich diets, and timely care.