AIIMS experts said Delhi’s air quality has entered “medical emergency” territory. They explained that water spraying, masks, and air purifiers give “only superficial relief.” They also noted that hospitals are seeing more patients with pollution-linked diseases.
Dr Anant Mohan, who heads pulmonary medicine and sleep disorders at AIIMS, said, “People know pollution is harmful, but they do not grasp the scale of the damage.” He added, “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.”
Surge in Pollution-Linked Illnesses
At an AIIMS seminar, Dr Mohan said patient numbers spike every time air quality dips. He said, “Since Diwali, we have seen a 10-15% rise in respiratory cases across departments of pulmonary, respiratory medicine, ophthalmology. Patients come in with wheezing, cough, breathlessness, burning eyes and skin irritation. People who were previously healthy are falling ill. COPD patients are deteriorating faster.”
He warned that the situation is “grave” and said, “Delhi is in the middle of a public-health emergency. Temporary fixes won’t save us. The city needs real, long-term solutions, not seasonal quick fixes.”
Pollution Is Not a Winter-Only Problem
Dr Saurabh Mittal, assistant professor at AIIMS, said Delhi must stop treating pollution as a November issue. He stated, “We wake up to the crisis only in November. This mindset is part of the problem. Delhi needs year-round action.”
He also said water spraying helps very little. “It is happening, but at a very low scale. It helps only marginally and it cannot be the main strategy,” he added.
Masks Offer Limited Protection
Dr Mohan said masks and purifiers give only limited safety. He explained, “These are personal protection measures. Wearing masks, avoiding outdoor exposure during severe pollution, and using air purifiers are not complete solutions. They only offer limited individual-level protection.”
Weather and Human Activity Make It Worse
Experts said Delhi’s winter pollution worsens due to weather patterns and human actions. Temperature inversion traps pollutants. Low wind speed stops them from dispersing. Dr Mohan said, “Solutions have to come from decision-making levels and must be implemented rigorously.”
They called the situation “deeply concerning” and warned that delays worsen health outcomes. “Citizens, including children, are already bearing the brunt,” they added.
Hospitals Report Rising Cases
Hospitals across Delhi are seeing similar trends. Dr Akshay Budhraja of Aakash Healthcare said pollution-related cases are climbing. “Most patients complain of cough, breathlessness, burning in the eyes and throat, and chest congestion,” he said. He also noted that the problem now affects young adults and children. “Small children and young adults are now coming in with wheezing and persistent cough,” he added.