Delhi's toxic air is hitting the elderly hard
Delhi's winter pollution isn't just an eyesore—it's making life much tougher for older residents.
Sunil Gupta, 58, spends thousands each month on nebulisers just to manage his worsening bronchitis and pneumonia.
Even with air purifiers, people like 64-year-old Chandrika Shrivastav are stuck indoors as asthma and breathing issues flare up.
Tiny PM2.5 particles in the air dig deep into lungs, speeding up diseases like COPD and raising risks of infections and heart problems.
Hospitals are seeing a surge—and it's not just numbers
Hospitals across the city say they're treating 30-40% more patients for breathing troubles this season.
In recent years, Delhi has seen a surge in respiratory cases—most during smoggy winters fueled by stubble burning and emissions.
According to a recent survey, 8 out of 10 locals know someone who's fallen sick from pollution—with conditions such as asthma, COPD, lung damage, heart failure, strokes, and cognitive decline—which really shows how urgent this crisis has become for families everywhere.