Delhi air can kill many, warns top AIIMS doctor
The air in the Capital became “unbreathable” on Wednesday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) shooting up to a poisonous 517, crossing the ‘severe’ mark. Director of country’s top medical institute, AIIMS, Dr Randeep Guleria then warned that 25,000 to 30,000 people in in Delhi-NCR might lose their lives this year, due to diseases exacerbated by pollution.
“Pollution is a silent killer,” he said, while comparing the situation to the 1952 killer Great Smog of London. On December 5, 1952, a thick yellow smog brought London to a standstill for four days, and is estimated to have killed more than 4,000 people.
On Tuesday, the AQI in the Capital had clocked at 448. A dark blanket of haze enveloped Delhi-NCR on Wednesday, with citizens complaining of breathlessness and irritation in eyes. “It was worse on Wednesday. There was dust in my eyes, throat. Delhi has become unliveable,” said Mayank Sharma, a resident of Vasant Kunj.
Hospitals across the Capital were swarmed with patients complaining about breathlessness, headache, throat infection, fever, cough etc. “The situation will lead to an increase in number of cases of breathlessness and deaths. There has been a rise of 20 per cent in the number of patients in OPD,” …read more