Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘very poor’ range on Monday leading to a significant increase in respiratory cases at hospitals across the city. The majority parts of Delhi are blanketed with thick smog, making it difficult for residents to avoid exposure to the hazardous air. The ongoing pollution crisis is affecting healthcare resources as more individuals are experiencing respiratory symptoms, even those who don’t have any history of such health issues.
AQI levels across Delhi
The national capital’s air quality at 9:00 am on Monday was recorded to be at 349 level and falling under ”very poor” as per the latest data from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR) India. Several areas reported disturbing AQI values, with Anand Vihar at 385, Mundka at 382, RK Puram at 371, Dwarka Sector 8 at 367, Sri Aurobindo Marg at 206, Najafgarh at 357, and IGI Airport at 338. Similarly, the AQI level at Akshardham was 378 and at Akshardham, it was 315 according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Along with dangerous air quality, toxic foam was also seen floating in the Yamuna River at Kalindi Kunj which shows the pollution levels in Delhi’s waterways. The current situation highlights the severity of environmental issues being faced by the capital, as the pollution level is affecting both the air and water.
Doctors warn of health crisis
The ”very poor” air quality has made doctors raise concerns about the increasing number of respiratory issues among the residents. Dr. Nikhil Modi, who is Senior Consultant for Respiratory Critical Care at Apollo Hospital stated to ANI, that individuals with no history of respiratory conditions are also suffering from difficulty in breathing, sneezing, and runny noses. The alarming surge in respiratory infections across all groups is cause for concern and the hospitals are full of cases like pneumonia and other related issues, said the Chairman of the Institute of Chest Surgery, Chest Onco Surgery, and Lung Transplantation at Medanta Hospital, Dr. Arvind Kumar.
Dr Kumar further stated that they are dealing with more cases of pneumonia in the ICUs and pediatrician clinics are filled with children who are facing difficulty in breathing. He said that air pollution is affecting every household, as both children and adults are suffering from severe respiratory symptoms and coughing. Measures like the closure of schools and the implementation of a Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) are insufficient. As per Kumar, these measures are ”temporary knee-jerk reactions” and they fail to address the crisis.
(With inputs from ANI)