{"id":"f-73cd9b4b27-961285b9-6df3-5d16-b80d-742ddd328ea2","title":"‘Covid-19-like patches in lungs’: Toxic air chokes Delhi-NCR as AQI stays ‘very poor’","description":"Dense fog and a blanket of smog envelop Delhi-NCR as air quality stays ‘very poor’. The air quality in national capital remains in the ‘very poor’ category, with doctors warning of Covid-like lung damage, increasing the risk of cancer, and severe respiratory illness. AQI on Thursday stood at 358, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).","timestamp":1766049527,"category":"national_v_two","headline":"‘Covid-19-like patches in lungs’: Toxic air chokes Delhi-NCR as AQI stays ‘very poor’","modifiedHeadline":"Delhi Air: Toxic Smog Causes Lung Damage","subCategories":["scid_fec61c6c"],"region":"IN","bundleMetaData":{"bundleId":"7b48871c-c993-4956-b43d-6f46f8e1b036","bundleTitle":"Today In India","cardData":null},"iabCategoryId":"300","fcSummary":"Delhi-NCR grappled with dense fog and smog, severely reducing visibility and disrupting traffic. The air quality remained 'very poor' with an AQI of 358. Doctors warned of 'Covid-like' lung damage due to pollution, as hospitals report increased respiratory illness cases.","summary":"Delhi-NCR chokes on toxic air; AQI 'very poor'. Doctors warn of Covid-like lung damage, cancer risk, and severe respiratory illnesses.","ctaUrl":"https://trends.glance.com/newz/astrology/IN/en/news9/f-73cd9b4b27-961285b9-6df3-5d16-b80d-742ddd328ea2","sourceUrl":"https://www.news9live.com/city/delhi/covid-19-like-patches-in-lungs-toxic-air-chokes-delhi-ncr-as-aqi-stays-very-poor-2913047","bannerImage":"https://g-mob.glance-cdn.com/public/fc/image/snIspx1sdG20.webp","content":"

New Delhi: Dense fog and a blanket of smog hung heavy over large parts of Delhi-NCR on Thursday morning, sharply reducing visibility and slowing traffic

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across the region, even as air quality continued to remain in the ‘very poor’ category.

The thick fog and heavy smog affected movement on several arterial roads and highways linking Delhi with Gurugram, Ghaziabad and Noida. Vehicles were seen struggling through traffic jams across low-visibility stretches, forcing morning commuters to brace for delays and longer travel times.

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At Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Palam observatory, visibility was recorded at just 100 metres in the early hours. Airport officials said general visibility was expected to improve to around 150 metres within half an hour and gradually get better as the morning progressed.

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Air quality remains a concern

Even as the fog caused immediate disruption, the larger concern remained the region’s toxic air. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 358, firmly within the ‘very poor’ category.

Doctors warn that prolonged exposure to such air is no longer just a seasonal inconvenience but a serious health threat. Medical experts say sustained pollution can lead to lung damage resembling Covid-era infections, significantly raise cancer risk and trigger complications, including during pregnancy.

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‘Covid-like lung damage’

Pulmonologists point to extremely fine particulate matter, especially PM2.5, as the main culprit. These particles are small enough to pass deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream, leading to inflammation, swelling and long-term tissue damage. In an interaction with News9, Dr Vivek Nangia, Vice Chairman & Head of Pulmonology at Max Hospital, explained how the toxic air is leading to severe and irreversible health complications, especially respiratory distress.

CT scans and chest X-rays of patients exposed to high pollution levels increasingly show visible patches and scarring in the lungs, similar to those seen during coronavirus infections. Doctors say such damage may develop silently, weakening lung function over time.

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Rising hospital admissions

Hospitals across the capital are seeing the impact first-hand. Government data presented to Parliament reveals that over 2 lakh people sought emergency treatment for acute respiratory illnesses at six major central hospitals in Delhi over the past two years. Nearly 15 per cent of them required hospital admission.

While emergency visits decreased slightly in 2024, the number of admissions increased this year, suggesting that patients are presenting with more severe symptoms. Doctors say this trend closely tracks winter pollution spikes, when AQI levels frequently slip into ‘very poor’ or ‘severe’ ranges.

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Health experts caution that children face impaired lung development due to sustained exposure, while elderly patients and those with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease are at greater risk of complications. Pregnant women may also face increased health risks linked to toxic air.

A growing public health emergency

Vehicular emissions, construction dust, industrial pollution, diesel generators, and seasonal farm fires continue to drive Delhi’s pollution crisis, with weak winter winds trapping contaminants over the region.

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Experts increasingly agree that Delhi’s air crisis is no longer confined to the winter months. With fog, smog, and hazardous air becoming routine, the capital is facing a prolonged public health emergency that demands urgent and sustained action beyond short-term measures.

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‘Covid-19-like patches in lungs’: Toxic air chokes Delhi-NCR as AQI stays ‘very poor’

SUMMARY