New Delhi: With Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching 'severe' category state authorities have become vigilant, with even schools being advised to stop outdoor activity for a while. Observing the current situation, medical fraternity has come to openly state that the air quality may have dire consequences, especially for children and patients. "There is an increase in cough, beathlessness and cases of burning eyes, with many patients checking in complaining about the said issues," Dr. Himanshu Garg, Head of Department, Pulmonoligist at Pratiksha Hospital told Millennium Post.
He added that PM2.5 is a reason of concern because the particles get deposited in the lungs. "This is a medium to long term effect, like cancer and respiratory-related diseases, affecting every system of the body," he said. He also said that there has been an increase in number of patients, especially since Diwali. "The situation is pretty bad," Garg added.
According to data revealed by Global Burden of Disease 2017, about 1,95,546 children lost their lives due to air pollution-related diseases. In Delhi, 41 child deaths were recorded in the same year due to air pollution. He added that a few patients had to be immediately shifted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) due to the ongoing situation. "It becomes difficult for a person who is already a patient to breathe in such bad air. We saw some major cases, where patients had to be rushed to ICU," said.
Speaking about the worsening condition Kashish a resident of Janak Puri said, "I can feel the burning sensations in my lungs, how are we supposed to go out in such a situation." Citizens can be seen with masks when commuting on the roads. "It's pretty bad, I feel like leaving Delhi, for a while and go away somewhere," said another resident of Dwarka. Meanwhile, doctors have issued an advisory for people to save themselves from the wrath of pollution and advised people to take more precautions, avoid early morning and late evening walks as the concentration of pollutants is highest during this period.
State government has also advised schools to take precautionary measures, while Directorate of Education (DoE) sent out a notice on Wednesday, directing both government and private schools of sensitizing the parents about the air quality condition. "The medical fraternity is very concerned, anxious and angry about the way air quality is deteriorating," said Dr Garg.