“About 30-40 per cent of the total attendance is mainly due to respiratory diseases,” he said.
Pulmonologist Dhingra said the only advice he can give to parents is to restrict their children’s outdoor activities as much as possible.
“Imagine telling a parent not to let the child go out and play in this toxic environment.”
The Delhi government has announced emergency school closures, halting construction work and banning the entry of diesel vehicles in the city to reduce pollution levels.
But stubble burning by farmers in neighboring agricultural states, which significantly contributes to Delhi’s pollution, continues unabated, drawing a rebuke from the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Delhi’s stifling air has resulted in the “complete murder of our youth”, the court said.
Arshi Wasim, a 28-year-old housewife, brought her 18-month-old daughter Nida Wasim to the hospital after she was suffering from pneumonia.
“She coughs constantly,” she said. “She doesn’t even take milk or water because her lungs are congested. Sometimes we have to give her oxygen and take her to the doctor two or three times a day.”
“It’s the same story every year.”
