Delhi Pollution: New reports have revealed that breathing in Delhi is now as dangerous to health as battling a serious illness. The latest report from the IHME has further increased concerns in the capital.

Delhi Pollution: Delhi's air isn't just dirty, it's deadly. Every winter, the capital's air becomes toxic, but this is no longer a seasonal problem; it's become a year-round silent killer. New reports have revealed that breathing in Delhi is now as dangerous to health as battling a serious illness.  

The latest report from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) has further increased the capital's concerns. According to this report, in 2023, 17,188 people in Delhi alone will die due to air pollution, meaning that one in every seven deaths is now caused by polluted air. So, let's find out what the report says about pollution becoming a silent killer in Delhi.

What the report says

The report states that ultra-fine particles in the air, known as PM2.5, have become the leading cause of death in Delhi. They are so small that they enter the lungs and bloodstream, rapidly increasing heart and lung diseases. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), pollution alone accounted for approximately 15 percent of all deaths in Delhi in 2023. This figure is extremely alarming for any modern city, as it means that pollution has now become more fatal than risks like high blood pressure, diabetes, and cholesterol.

Major causes of death in Delhi in 2023

In 2023, Delhi reported 17,188 deaths due to air pollution, 14,874 deaths due to high blood pressure, 10,653 deaths due to diabetes, 7,267 deaths due to high cholesterol, and 6,698 deaths due to obesity. These figures show that smog in Delhi has now become a bigger killer than blood pressure and sugar. The air we breathe every moment is slowly causing deaths. According to the WHO, the PM2.5 level in Delhi has been found to be many times higher. This affects children, the elderly, and those with heart or lung diseases the most. Asthma, lung infections, and respiratory problems have become common in children, while serious diseases like heart attack, stroke, and cancer are increasing in adults.

Experts warn

CREA and other experts say that Delhi's bad air is no longer just an environmental issue; it has become a public health crisis. Pollution is leading to an increase in hospitalizations, a decrease in the working population, and a shortening of the average lifespan. Scientists say that if the government doesn't take immediate and stringent measures, these figures could worsen in the coming years. 

What are the possible solutions?

According to experts, Delhi needs science-based policies, not just an emergency action plan, to deal with this crisis.

1. Strict control on industrial emissions, so that the smoke coming out of factories is reduced.

2. Control of vehicular pollution, such as phasing out old vehicles and promoting electric vehicles.

3. Increasing the number of green zones and trees and plants, so that the oxygen level in the air improves.

4. Strictness on dust and waste management, so that the problem of dust flying on the roads is reduced.