Air a ‘medical emergency’ in Delhi, AIIMS experts warn

Air pollution in the capital has crossed into “medical emergency” territory, AIIMS experts warned on Tuesday, stressing that water spraying, masks and air purifiers offer “only superficial relief” at a time when hospitals are reporting a surge in pollution-linked illnesses across age groups.

- Ridhima Gupta

“People know pollution is harmful, but they do not grasp the scale of the damage,” said Dr Anant Mohan, professor and head of pulmonary medicine and sleep disorders at AIIMS. “Air pollution is harming those who are yet to be born and those who are at the end of life. It affects the heart, brain, mental health and every physiological system. We now have clear evidence that it cuts life expectancy and increases mortality.”

Speaking at an AIIMS seminar on the health toll of the crisis, Dr Mohan said patient numbers spike sharply every time air quality crashes. “Since Diwali, we have seen a 10-15% rise in respiratory cases across depart-