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

More than 200,000 cases of acute respiratory illness were recorded in six government hospitals in Delhi between 2022 and 2024, as the Indian capital grappled with increasing pollution levels, the federal government said.

The government told parliament that more than 30,000 people with respiratory illnesses had to be hospitalized over the three years.

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

For weeks now, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) – which measures different types of pollutants, including PM2.5, fine particles that can clog the lungs – has been more than 20 times higher than the limit recommended by the World Health Organization.

There is no single cause behind the problem, but it is attributed to a mix of factors such as industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, falling temperatures, low wind speeds and seasonal stubble burning 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 analysis suggests that increased pollution levels were associated with increased numbers of patients attending emergency rooms. However, the model in this study cannot confirm that the association is causal,” the government told Parliament.

Delhi’s average AQI has crossed the “severe” mark of 400 several times over the past decade, particularly in winter – levels that can harm even healthy people and pose serious risks to those with existing illnesses.

As of Wednesday morning, Delhi’s average AQI was around 380, according to the government-backed Safar app.

The BBC reported last week how many hospitals in Delhi and its suburbs are seeing an influx of sick children because of the toxic air.

The Delhi High Court is expected to hear a petition on Wednesday calling for urgent measures to tackle dangerous air pollution.

In recent years, India’s top court has also expressed concerns over air quality in and around Delhi.

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