A toxic mix of erratic weather and choking pollution is overwhelming hospitals in Delhi-NCR. Over 50% of OPD patients in district facilities are battling seasonal diseases, from stomach bugs causing vomiting and loose stools to respiratory woes like coughs, fevers, throat irritation, breathlessness, and rampant allergies.
Forecasts indicate hazy conditions persisting through February 12, with temperatures swinging from 11-12°C lows to 23-26°C highs. The jarring shift from foggy, chilly dawns and dusks to scorching afternoons is fueling illness outbreaks.
AQI levels scream danger: Delhi’s Mandka tops the charts at 357, followed by Narela (344), Bawana (333), Ashok Vihar (328), and Anand Vihar (317). High-risk zones extend to Nehru Nagar (316), Chandni Chowk (291), Okhla (283), and more. Noida records Sector-125 at 307, while Ghaziabad’s Loni hits an alarming 402.
Medical experts warn that pollution-laden moisture is supercharging infections. Respiratory and digestive disorders are spiking as fine particles infiltrate lungs and humidity breeds germs. Protective measures include N95 masks, steam inhalation, hydration with boiled water, and steering clear of street food. Families with children and elders should minimize outdoor time.
This dual assault underscores NCR’s chronic environmental crisis, demanding urgent policy interventions beyond individual precautions to safeguard public health.