Delhi’s Toxic Air Drives Spike in Respiratory Illnesses

Published: 03 December 2025
The English Chronicle Desk
The English Chronicle Online

Delhi is once again grappling with a familiar and devastating winter crisis as toxic air blankets the Indian capital, driving a staggering rise in acute respiratory illnesses across the city. More than 200,000 cases of respiratory problems were recorded in six major state-run hospitals between 2022 and 2024, according to new federal government data presented in parliament. Over the same period, more than 30,000 patients suffering from breathing difficulties were admitted for hospital care, illustrating the severity of the public health emergency.

The figures, though alarming, reflect a long-standing pattern. Delhi’s winters are routinely marked by acrid, smog-filled air that often ranks among the most polluted in the world. Each year, weather patterns, industrial activity, and human behaviour converge to create a toxic atmospheric cocktail that endangers millions of residents. Although pollution is a year-round issue in the National Capital Region, its grip tightens sharply between October and January, when calm wind conditions and temperature inversions trap pollutants close to the ground.

This winter has been no exception. For several consecutive weeks, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has remained alarmingly high—more than 20 times above the World Health Organization’s recommended safe limit for particulate matter. These pollutants include PM2.5, an especially dangerous microscopic particle capable of penetrating deep into the lungs and bloodstream. On Wednesday morning, government-backed monitoring through the Safar app recorded the city’s average AQI at around 380—classified as “very poor” and bordering on “severe.”

The casual numbers behind these readings translate into real consequences for residents. Hospitals across the capital have reported an influx of patients, including children and elderly individuals who are particularly vulnerable to the impact of polluted air. Doctors describe a wave of respiratory distress cases involving exacerbated asthma symptoms, bronchitis, and severe breathlessness.

According to government data, Delhi’s six major hospitals recorded 67,054 acute respiratory cases in 2022, 69,293 in 2023, and 68,411 in 2024. The government noted that analysis indicates a clear association between pollution levels and increased emergency room visits. However, officials cautioned that the observational nature of the study prevents them from definitively establishing causality. Even so, the correlation is difficult to ignore in a city where pollution spikes are reliably accompanied by a rush of patients gasping for clean air.

The reasons for Delhi’s persistent air-quality crisis remain complex and deeply intertwined. Industrial emissions continue to play a significant role, particularly those from power plants, manufacturing units, and brick kilns scattered across the region. The capital’s dense traffic contributes enormous volumes of exhaust, especially during peak hours. Meanwhile, winter brings meteorological conditions that help trap pollutants: lower temperatures and slow-moving winds limit the natural dispersion of harmful particles.

Another seasonal factor repeatedly blamed for Delhi’s suffocating air is crop stubble burning in neighbouring states such as Punjab and Haryana. As farmers clear their fields for the next sowing season, smoke travels hundreds of kilometres and accumulates in the capital’s atmosphere. Though authorities have introduced numerous measures over the years—ranging from fines to mechanised alternatives—the practice persists due to cost pressures, logistical barriers, and slow policy implementation.

The health crisis gripping Delhi has prompted renewed concern from the judiciary. This week, the Delhi High Court is set to hear a petition demanding urgent action to control hazardous pollution. Over recent years, India’s Supreme Court has repeatedly criticised authorities for inadequate management, urging both state and federal bodies to adopt more effective strategies. Despite these interventions, structural challenges and overlapping jurisdictions have often hindered meaningful progress.

Residents, meanwhile, continue to suffer the consequences. Reporters from the BBC recently documented how paediatric wards across Delhi and nearby cities are seeing a surge in children struggling to breathe. Many doctors warn that young lungs are bearing the brunt of prolonged exposure to dirty air, raising concerns about long-term impacts on development, immunity, and overall health.

In homes and workplaces, people often resort to air purifiers and masks in a desperate attempt to shield themselves. But such measures offer limited protection and remain inaccessible to many of the city’s poorer residents, who make up a large portion of those seeking treatment in public hospitals.

Delhi’s ongoing air crisis reflects a longer-term struggle between rapid urbanisation, industrial demand, agricultural practices, and environmental protection. Despite numerous plans, task forces, and emergency responses announced over the years, the capital remains trapped in an annual cycle of winter pollution. Experts argue that real progress will require coordinated, sustained initiatives—not only enforcing stricter emissions standards and cleaner technologies but also addressing the socio-economic challenges that fuel practices like crop burning.

As Delhi enters yet another winter of smog, its residents and health workers brace themselves for what has become an all-too-familiar battle. The rising number of respiratory cases recorded over the last three years is a stark reminder that the city’s fight for clean air remains far from over. Without significant intervention, the threat to public health—especially for vulnerable populations—will only continue to grow.