Even though New Delhi has become the face of extreme air pollution — and a public health risk worth thousands of daily deaths — the same pattern persists. A recent study, reported by Kiran Sharma on December 3, 2025, reveals that the air quality in the Indian capital is responsible for more deaths than both diabetes and hypertension combined. This shocking figure demonstrates the deadly air pollution emergency currently gripping New Delhi. Previously, the city had been named India’s most polluted city.
A heavy shroud of toxic pollution covers New Delhi. It is creating increasingly dangerous conditions for its residents. The city is still facing a pollution crisis, as of November 25, 2025. Residents have to endure the soup-like haze that shrouds their communities day in and day out. The new normal leaves many no choice but to grapple with decreased air quality, and in turn, negatively impacted lung health.
Notably, none of India’s 749 districts comply with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) guidelines for PM2.5 levels, a critical measure for assessing air quality. This deficiency represents a monumental failure to address air pollution across the country. Inexplicably, we are now four years deep in an overall rise in environmentally-related deaths.
The implications of the study’s findings have sparked new debates. We still need much better policies and enforcement measures to address the air pollution crisis in New Delhi. Experts emphasize that immediate action is essential to protect public health and prevent further fatalities due to the detrimental effects of polluted air.