India’s largest cities are gasping under toxic skies — and the damage is now becoming unmistakably visible inside emergency wards.

New figures from the central government show that Delhi hospitals have recorded more than two lakh cases of acute respiratory illness (ARI) between 2022 and 2024. Thousands of these patients were sick enough to require hospital admission, signalling a worsening public health crisis.

The information was shared in the Rajya Sabha after MP Dr. Vikramjit Singh Sahney flagged concerns about the rising burden of ARI. Responding to the query, Union Minister Prataprao Jadhav acknowledged that air pollution remains one of the biggest triggers for respiratory flare-ups and said the government is tracking the issue through an expanded disease-monitoring network.

According to him, the health impact of polluted air builds on several factors — from immunity and lifestyle to medical history — making certain people far more vulnerable.

What the New Data Shows

The numbers were compiled by the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) using reports from six Delhi hospitals that routinely monitor pollution-linked illnesses.

Across these centres, 33,213 emergency room patients — roughly 13% of all ER arrivals — were diagnosed with ARI during the study period.

To help states gear up, the Health Ministry said it regularly circulates air quality bulletins and yearly advisories so hospitals can prepare for expected surges, especially during high-smog months.

Doctors say poor air quality is hitting hardest those who already struggle with asthma, COPD, cardiac conditions or compromised immunity. On heavily polluted days, hospitals are seeing more patients with persistent cough, loud wheezing, fevers and sudden drops in oxygen levels.

Here’s how six central hospitals in Delhi reported ARI cases:

• 2022: 67,054 cases | 9,878 admissions

• 2023: 69,293 cases | 9,727 admissions

• 2024: 68,411 cases | 10,819 admissions (the highest so far)

Even though the total number of cases dipped slightly in 2024, the rise in severe cases requiring admission has alarmed doctors.

Other Big Cities Show the Same Trend

Delhi isn’t the only one in trouble.

Chennai

The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and Stanley Medical College reported:

• 2023: 1,647 cases | 563 admissions

• 2024: 1,502 cases | 324 admissions

Mumbai

Mumbai, however, witnessed the sharpest jump:

• 2023: 921 cases | 31 admissions

• 2024: 1,969 cases | 474 admissions

The spike in hospitalisations — more than fivefold — has been linked to worsening smog, large-scale construction activity and dust pollution.