Air pollution has now been declared India’s most serious health crisis since the COVID-19 pandemic, with long-term toxic exposure silently fueling a surge of respiratory and cardiovascular disease across the country. UK-based Indian doctors warn that a vast, hidden burden of undiagnosed airway diseases is building beneath the surface, threatening millions of lives and overwhelming the health system if urgent action isn’t taken. The Economic Times
While visible bouts of winter smog grab headlines, clinicians stress these are only the tip of the iceberg. Prolonged exposure to diesel, vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions and fossil fuel pollutants damages lungs, hearts and even the nervous system, fuelling chronic illness and hospital admissions. The Economic Times
Despite repeated warnings from health experts and astronomical case increases in hospitals, policymakers continue to question direct causal links — even as transport and fossil fuel sectors drive nearly 40 % of Delhi’s pollution. The Economic Times
Experts call for science-driven, sustained intervention, mass screening for airway disease and systemic reforms to curb toxic emissions before India’s next great health catastrophe becomes unavoidable. The Economic Times
