Delhi Chokes Again: Dust Storm Triggers Spike in Asthma, Breathlessness Cases

📅 By News Anek Digital Desk | June 20, 2025

“Na COVID hai, na winter smog. Phir bhi sans lena mushkil ho gaya hai.”(There’s no COVID, no winter smog—but breathing is harder than ever.)

Just as Delhiites hoped to catch a breath after a sizzling heatwave, the capital was engulfed in a massive dust storm that has now triggered an alarming surge in respiratory illnesses.

Hospitals across the city are reporting a 30–40% rise in outpatient cases for breathlessness, chest congestion, and chronic cough—especially among children, elderly, and asthma patients.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an air quality health advisory, and doctors are calling it "an invisible emergency."

🌪️ What Happened?

On June 17, a massive dust storm swept through Delhi-NCR and parts of Haryana and western UP, accompanied by wind speeds over 55 km/h.

IMD’s Breakdown:

• Caused by intense dry winds from Rajasthan and Haryana

• No rainfall to settle particles

• Resulted in PM10 levels exceeding 1,200 µg/m³ in several areas

For context:

The safe limit for PM10 is 100 µg/m³. Delhi exceeded that by 12x in one afternoon.

📉 Air Quality Index (AQI) Data Snapshot (June 18–19)

Location	PM10 (µg/m³)	PM2.5 (µg/m³)	AQI Level
Anand Vihar	1265	412	Severe
RK Puram	1180	390	Severe
Punjabi Bagh	1055	378	Very Poor
Lodhi Road	900	345	Very Poor

"It felt like breathing in a sandstorm—even inside homes," said Meena, a schoolteacher from East Delhi.

🏥 The Health Fallout

Hospitals Report:

• AIIMS, GTB, and Apollo saw a 35% increase in OPD footfall in pulmonary and ENT departments

• 20+ cases of dust-induced asthma attacks in a single night at LNJP Hospital

• Pharmacies sold out of inhalers and anti-allergics in parts of East and Central Delhi

“We are seeing patients with no previous asthma history coming in with wheezing, chest tightness, and uncontrollable sneezing,” said Dr. Rakesh Kumar, a pulmonologist at Safdarjung Hospital.

🧒 Who’s at Risk?

Group	Risk Factor
👶 Children	Smaller lungs, playing outdoors, poor mask discipline
🧓 Elderly	Pre-existing heart/lung conditions, weak immunity
👷 Outdoor Workers	Continuous exposure, no protective gear
🏋️‍♀️ Runners & Joggers	Heavy breathing during workouts increases pollutant intake

😷 What Is Dust Pollution Doing to Your Body?

Dust storms contain coarse PM10 and fine PM2.5 particles that penetrate deep into your lungs and bloodstream.

Effects:

• Inflammation of airways

• Increased mucus production

• Risk of bronchitis, asthma attacks, and pneumonia

• Worsening of heart disease

• Long-term exposure linked to lung cancer and cognitive decline

“A one-day dust storm can reverse weeks of clean air benefits,” warns Dr. Priya Sharma, an environmental health expert.

🏙️ Why Is Delhi So Vulnerable?

1. Topography

• Delhi lies in the Indo-Gangetic plain, which traps pollutants due to its bowl-shaped terrain.

2. Urban Concrete Jungle

• Lack of trees = no dust filtration

• Construction sites rarely follow dust-control norms

• Over 6,000 ongoing real estate projects in NCR alone

3. Low Wind Dispersal

• Summer storms often trap dust rather than clear it—especially with no rain follow-up

🛠️ What the Govt Is Doing (And Not Doing)

✅ Immediate Actions

• Delhi Govt deployed 150+ water tankers to spray roads

• All construction temporarily banned for 48 hours

• Schools advised to restrict outdoor activities

❌ Gaps

• No real-time air alerts sent to citizens

• No N95 mask distribution

• No helpline activated for asthma or COPD patients

• No coordination between NCR cities (Ghaziabad, Gurgaon, Noida still have ongoing construction)

📣 News Anek Expert View: Delhi’s Dust Story Is a Climate Warning

“This wasn’t just a storm. This was a reminder.”

The dust isn’t Delhi’s only enemy. It’s a symptom of deeper failures:

• Poor urban planning

• Climate inaction

• Construction greed

• Policy patchwork instead of prevention

Unless Delhi builds:

1. Green cover buffers (not just decorative parks)

2. Real-time pollution alert systems

3. Dust-control compliance audits for all builders

4. Disaster SOPs for seasonal weather anomalies

…this will keep happening—every summer.

🧠 What You Can Do Right Now

✅ Protect Yourself

• Wear N95 masks when going out

• Use air purifiers indoors if possible

• Avoid jogging or exercising outdoors

• Drink warm fluids and use saline nasal rinses

🚫 Avoid

• Going out between 12–4 PM

• Riding bikes in open without mask/eye protection

• Ignoring symptoms like tightness in chest or breathlessness

📊 Summary Snapshot

Element	Status
Storm Date	June 17, 2025
Peak Wind Speed	55+ km/h
Worst AQI	1265 PM10 (Anand Vihar)
Hospital Surge	30–40% increase in respiratory patients
Most Affected	Children, elderly, asthma patients
Gov Response	Water sprays, temporary construction halt

📢 Final Word from News Anek

Delhi doesn’t need more air purifiers. It needs purified policy.

If heatwaves were the fire, this dust storm is the smoke. Both are part of India’s growing climate crisis—and no mask, no app, no N95 will save us if we don’t tackle the root.

We used to check the weather to see if it’ll rain.Now we check if it’s even safe to breathe.