Meena Thakur coughs non-stop as she sits down on the floor to have lunch near the entrance of All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Delhi. Doctors say there has been a "30 to 40 per cent increase" in the number of people coming to hospitals with respiratory problems.
"We have observed an increase in the severity of asthma attacks. Those with pre-existing respiratory issues are requiring hospitalisation. These are acute effects of the hazardous air pollution in the city," said Dr Vikas Maurya, head of Pulmonology Department, Fortis Hospital.
According to an analysis by the DPCC, Delhiites breathe the worst air between November 1-15 every year.
“I was okay at home, but developed a cold and cough after coming to Delhi. There's smoke all around. I will leave as soon as my father is discharged from hospital,” she says. PTI