Delhi saw 9,211 deaths due to respiratory diseases in 2024 as air pollution problem persists
Common respiratory diseases like asthma, pneumonia, lung cancer, and Tuberclosis often cause breathing issues and have led to deaths in the national capital. In 2024, most of the deaths (21,262) happened due to diseases of the circulatory system.
New Delhi: The Delhi government has released the latest official data that shows 9,211 deaths in the national capital in 2024 due to respiratory diseases. In 2023, the number of deaths was 8,801 as Delhi continues to battle air pollution.
Common respiratory diseases among victims
Common respiratory diseases like asthma, pneumonia, lung cancer, and Tuberclosis often cause breathing issues, and have led to the death toll in the national capital. In 2024, most of the deaths (21,262) happened due to diseases of the circulatory system, while infectious and parasitic diseases caused 16,060 deaths.
Delhi's death rate rises
The overall death rate in Delhi also showed a rise, with the total number increasing to 1.39 lakh in 2024, from 1.32 deaths in 2023. Out of them, 85,391 were males, 54,051 were females, and 38 were classified under other genders. In the same year, the total number of births registered was 3,06,459 as against 3,15,087 during 2023.
Supreme Court slams CAQM over Delhi pollution
Earlier, the Supreme Court slammed the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for adopting what the court described as an "unserious” approach to the Delhi-NCR region's air pollution. It directed the CAQM to convene a meeting of experts and submit a report on major causes of the worsening pollution.
The bench observed, "Have you been able to identify the causes of pollution? During all these days, a lot of material is coming into the public domain, experts are writing articles, people are having opinions, and they keep sending it to us via mail." The apex court, while hearing the Delhi air pollution case, said that the "CAQM is failing in its duty."