Delhi-NCR's Killer Air: 73% Fear Health Costs, 8% Want to Leave

• 73% of Delhi-NCR residents worry about healthcare costs due to toxic air pollution, and 8% plan to move out of the region.
• A survey found 82% of residents know someone with a serious health condition attributed to the toxic air.
• Hospitals in Delhi-NCR have seen a significant surge in respiratory illnesses since late October, particularly affecting children and the elderly.
• The severe air quality, often exceeding AQI 400, is linked to chronic diseases like lung cancer, COPD, heart failure, and stroke.
• Experts attribute the current toxic air primarily to weather conditions and local factors, including vehicular emissions, industrial pollutants, and construction dust.

Why It Matters: Air pollution in Delhi-NCR causes severe health, financial crises, and forces residents to move.