Post-Diwali air pollution triggers hospital surge in Noida as North India AQI spikes

Hospitals in Noida and across the Delhi National Capital Region have reported a sharp rise in patients seeking medical treatment for acute respiratory distress, as air pollution levels surged across North India following Diwali.

Pulmonologists at major facilities in Noida noted a clear post-festival spike in admissions and outpatient visits. Patients of all age groups have presented with symptoms including persistent coughing, severe wheezing, breathlessness, and acute allergic airway diseases, with doctors treating many individuals who had no prior history of respiratory ailments.

At Fortis Hospital in Noida’s Sector 62, pulmonologists reported receiving between 20 and 30 new patients daily with severe airway irritation and asthma exacerbations. Dr Rahul Sharma, director of pulmonology and critical care at the facility, said fresh cases were emerging even among residents who had recently moved to the region from southern states. At Yatharth Hospital in Sector 110, specialists treated young patients who developed pneumonia that rapidly progressed to acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Emergency care units also experienced immediate pressure during the festival. Felix Hospital in Sector 137 recorded nearly double its typical emergency caseload on Diwali night, treating 12 patients between 8 pm and midnight for severe breathlessness, asthma attacks, and burn injuries, according to hospital chairman Dr DK Gupta.

Data from the Central Pollution Control Board showed that air quality across North India deteriorated into the 'very poor' and 'severe' bands. Delhi recorded a 24-hour average Air Quality Index of 371 on Monday morning, marking its highest post-Diwali reading since 2021. Nearby NCR cities including Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram similarly logged readings well above the 300 mark.

Regional air quality levels

In response to the deteriorating air conditions, local administrations across the National Capital Region have intensified mitigation measures. In Ghaziabad, civic authorities deployed mechanical road sweepers, targeted water sprinklers, and dust-control teams across identified pollution hotspots, City Health Officer Mitlesh Kumar confirmed.

Health experts have advised residents to monitor daily AQI levels, use high-efficiency particulate air purifiers indoors, wear N95 masks during outdoor movement, and restrict strenuous outdoor activities until air quality improves.