Why there's no escape from Delhi's biggest killer

Delhi faces a severe air pollution crisis, with 1.72 million deaths attributed to fossil fuel pollution in India in 2022 - more than terror attacks, riots, epidemics and natural disasters combined. The capital's air quality regularly reaches 'very poor', 'severe' or 'hazardous' levels, with PM2.5 particles 30 times smaller than human hair penetrating deep into lungs and bloodstream. Activists like Bhavreen Kandhari report no improvement over two years despite monsoon rains, while farmers like Ram Singh continue burning crop stubble despite Supreme Court bans. Doctors at MMG District Hospital in Ghaziabad see over 300 patients daily during winter, with pollution-related cases increasing by 50%. The Indo-Gangetic plain affects hundreds of millions, with 150 of 256 monitored cities exceeding safe PM2.5 levels in 2025. Government measures remain temporary and inadequate, including vehicle bans and construction halts.