Delhi hospitals saw 200,000 respiratory illness patients in three years

More than 200,000 cases of acute respiratory illness have been recorded in six state-run hospitals in Delhi between 2022 and 2024 as the Indian capital struggles with high pollution levels, the federal government said.

The government said in Parliament that more than 30,000 people suffering from respiratory diseases had to be hospitalized during these three years.

Toxic air is a recurring problem in Delhi and its suburbs, especially during the winter.

For weeks, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) — which measures different types of pollutants, including PM2.5, a fine particulate matter that can clog the lungs — was more than 20 times the limit recommended by the World Health Organization.

There is no single cause behind this problem, but it is attributed to a combination of factors such as industrial emissions, vehicle exhausts, low temperatures, low wind speeds, and seasonal burning of crop residues in neighboring states.

Delhi’s six major hospitals recorded 67,054 acute respiratory cases in 2022, 69,293 in 2023, and 68,411 in 2024.

The government told Parliament: “Analysis suggests that the increase in pollution levels was associated with an increase in the number of patients attending emergency rooms. However, this study design cannot provide confirmation that the association is causal.”

Al Qaeda’s average rate in Delhi has exceeded the 400 “severe” mark several times over the past decade, especially in the winter – levels that can harm even the healthy and pose serious risks to those with existing illnesses.

On Wednesday morning, the average Al Qaeda rate in Delhi was around 380, according to a government-backed travel app.

The BBC reported last week how many there were Hospitals in Delhi and its suburbs are witnessing an influx of children Who get sick because of the toxic air.

The Delhi High Court is scheduled to hear a petition on Wednesday calling for urgent action to curb dangerous air pollution.

Over the past few years, the Supreme Court of India has also raised concerns about air quality in Delhi and its surrounding areas.

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