Air pollution in Indian capital hits new record high

New Delhi has overtaken Beijing in air pollution rankings, causing various health problems especially among the sensitive age groups.
Recent reports say the pollution has become so deadly in the capital that children have developed the lungs of chain-smokers, and people have been diagnosed with all types of pollution-related respiratory ailments. Reports also say living and breathing in Delhi takes years off people’s lives. And no less than three thousand children and infants die each year in Delhi due to pollution. Despite being crowned the world’s most polluted city, India’s capital does not have a system to issue health advisories when the particulate matter (PM) in the atmosphere reaches levels that are several times higher than the prescribed safe limit. The environment ministry says issuing any advisory will create panic and deter the sensitization process, but experts hope that the government gets sensitive enough to take strong measures before air pollution takes more lives.