Is India Winning the War Against Rising Non-Communicable Diseases? The latest health statistics paint a concerning picture: diabetes, heart disease, and cancer rates are climbing, impacting millions across the country. From rural healthcare access to the burgeoning urban health crisis, challenges remain significant. This week, we delve into the crucial initiatives underway – government policies, technological advancements in telemedicine, and the rising role of preventative healthcare – that aim to address this national health emergency. Experts weigh in on the effectiveness of current strategies and the critical need for increased public awareness campaigns targeting lifestyle diseases. Are these efforts enough? Explore Abtak.com's in-depth coverage on healthcare in India and discover the vital information you need to protect your well-being and the future of public health. Stay informed; stay healthy.
Mumbai: As the festival of lights brings colour and joy to homes across the country, doctors are urging citizens to take precautions against the surge in air pollution that accompanies the celebrations. The smoke, chemicals, and fine dust released from fireworks can cause a range of health issues -- especially affecting the skin, eyes, and respiratory system. Fireworks Release Toxic Particles and Heavy Metals Dr Amit Saraf, Director of Internal Medicine at Jupiter Hospital, Thane, explained that when fireworks burst, they release tiny particles and heavy metals that linger in the air long after the display ends. "These particles combine with other air pollutants to form a thick layer of smog that settles on the face, arms, and eyes. While the skin is designed to act as a barrier, it can become congested and inflamed due to this residue," he said. Sensitive Skin and Eyes at Higher Risk People with dry or sensitive skin may experience increased itching, redness, or rashes during this time. The skin around the eyes, being particularly delicate, is even more susceptible to smoke and airborne particles. Eye Irritation Common During Diwali, Say Experts According to Dr Aditya Kelkar, Director at NIO Super Speciality Hospital, the most common cause of eye irritation during Diwali is the smoke generated from firecracker combustion. "The chemicals and fine particles in the smoke can cause redness, itching, irritation, and excessive tearing. Even short exposure can cause discomfort, especially in people with allergies or sensitive eyes," he said. Safety Tips for Children and Families Dr Kelkar advised that children handling firecrackers should always be supervised by adults and should maintain a safe distance. "Wearing protective goggles can help prevent injuries from sparks, debris, and smoke," he added. Simple Steps to Reduce Pollution Exposure Timing also plays a role in minimizing exposure. Dr Saraf recommended celebrating earlier in the evening and keeping windows closed during peak pollution hours. "Using air purifiers or exhaust fans indoors can significantly improve air quality and reduce the effects of smoke," he said. Elderly and Patients with Chronic Illnesses Most Vulnerable Dr Rituja Ugalmugle, Internal Medicine Specialist at Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, noted that older adults are especially vulnerable. "Those with diabetes, hypertension, or heart and lung diseases are more sensitive to air pollution and changes in routine," she said. Families, she added, should ensure regular mealtimes, hydration, and timely medications, and offer diabetes-friendly sweets made with dates or natural sweeteners. Doctors Warn Against Pollution-Linked Health Complications Cardiac surgeon Dr Pawan Kumar warned that pollution can worsen asthma and heart conditions. "Older adults should stay indoors during peak firecracker hours, keep their medication handy, and use air purifiers if available," he advised. Doctors collectively emphasised that simple steps -- like limiting outdoor exposure, protecting the eyes and skin, and maintaining a balanced diet -- can help everyone celebrate a safe and healthy Diwali.
New Delhi: The debate among scientists and environment policy experts over what really drives vehicle pollution has heated up in Delhi after the Commission for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) directive of denying fuel and impounding end-of-life vehicles from July 1 onwards.Petrol vehicles that are over 15 years old and diesel vehicles that are over 10 years old are in the direct line of fire of CAQM's Direction 89.The policy's aim is to reducing emissions, but environmentalists and automotive exp ...Read More >
GURGAON: The investigation into the murder of a 25-year-old former international tennis player, allegedly by her father, has revealed a sudden deterioration in their relationship. The apparent reason was a disagreement over the academy she ran near their house, but the roots clearly run deeper. The father, who claims to have spent Rs 2 crore on his daughter's tennis career, told interrogators he was troubled by questions about her "character" that some of his associates had raised.Deepak Yadav, who shot Radhika at their house Thursday morning, had allegedly been insisting for two weeks on her ...Read More >
New Delhi: The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) put out a public notice on Sunday and asked the city residents to report any cases of firecrackers being stored, sold, manufactured, or used in Delhi. The decision came after a blanket ban put in place by the Delhi government on December 19, 2024, based on the direction of the Supreme Court. The notice said, "As per the order from the Hon'ble Supreme Court of India dated November 4, 2024, the Delhi government gave directions under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, on December 19, 2024. The order puts a complete ban on ...Read More >
New Delhi: Delhi government will develop 10 "Namo Van" across the city to enhance green cover and combat air pollution, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Monday. Speaking at the 'Aadhar Infra Confluence 2025' hosted by Panchjanya, she said her government's vision was to develop Delhi as a hub of education, tourism, IT, and healthcare, so that pollution is kept at a minimum while creating jobs. "This year, we started planting 70 lakh saplings. We will also develop 10 dense wooded areas as 'Namo Van'," she said, detailing initiatives of her government related to urban infrastructure. The chi ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: On the occasion of World Environment Day, the Chairperson of the National Green Tribunal, Justice Prakash Shrivastava, said that the plastic, in its myriad forms, has become an indispensable part of our lives, yet its convenience masks a devastating reality and from the single-use plastic bags that clog our drains and pollute our water bodies to the microplastics that infiltrate our food chain and even our own bodies, the hazards are undeniable. Citing the 2025 World Environment Day theme, "End Plastic Pollution," the NGT chief underscored the urgent need to acknowledge the inextri ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 30 (SocialNews.XYZ) Starting Tuesday, the Delhi government is planning to stop the sale of petrol and diesel to end-of-life (EoL) or over-age vehicles - a move aimed at fighting vehicular emission-linked air pollution in the Capital, an official said. Petrol pump owners on Monday confirmed that Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and other devices linked to the transport ministry's data bank have been installed at their outlets to identify EoL vehicles. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued a direction that all EoL vehicles identified throu ...Read More >
Delhi residents breathed easier Thursday as air quality improved to 'moderate' after a month of severe pollution. The AQI dropped to 161, though some areas still experienced 'poor' air quality. Cooler temperatures and mist accompanied the improved air, with the minimum temperature reaching 9 degrees Celsius. The Supreme Court maintained GRAP-IV restrictions, demanding compensation for construction workers from NCR states.Residents in Delhi took a sigh of relief on Thursday as the air quality inde ...Read More >
New Delhi: Three Indian citizens vanished mysteriously in Tehran. Darkness closed in as hope seemed lost. A ruthless Pakistani gang with potential links to ISI snatched them away, casting a shadow of fear. But relentless Indian diplomats refused to back down. Against all odds, a daring rescue mission ignited. Now, the captives are free, and a chilling game of espionage comes to light. The Punjab-based trio - Amritpal Singh from Hoshiarpur, Jaspal Singh from SBS Nagar and Hushnapreet Singh from Sangrur - had landed in Iran on May 1. Promised a clandestine route to Australia via Dubai and Tehra ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], June 29 (ANI): The Delhi government has requested Rs 1,000 crore in funding from the Central government to deploy new technology and implement measures aimed at reducing the Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital, Minister Parvesh Sahib Singh said on Sunday during an inspection of Nehru Park. Minister Singh visited Nehru Park along with Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, as part of the government's initiative to install air purifiers in the area. Also Read | US: 24-Year-Old Indian Woman Simran Simran Goes Missing Days After Arriving for Arranged Mar ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Three days after exempting majority of the coal- and lignite-based thermal power plants (TPPs) in India from installing key anti-pollution equipment that could have helped them meet the sulphur dioxide standards, the Union environment ministry on Monday sought to justify its move saying the current exposure levels provide no credible evidence to suggest that SO₂, under prevailing ambient conditions, is a major public health concern.It said any revision to SO2 standards must be driven by its actual contribution to PM2.5 levels and its corresponding health burden.Flagging a detailed s ...Read More >
Slashing pollution levels across the country by up to 30% can substantially reduce the burden of ailments such as heart disease, diabetes, anaemia and low birth weight among women and children, said a new assessment released Tuesday by IIT-Delhi and Climate Trends, a research-based consulting and capacity building initiative. Data on disease prevalence from National [...] Slashing pollution levels across the country by up to 30% can substantially reduce the burden of ailments such as heart disea ...Read More >
Delhi is facing worsening pollution and erratic weather patterns, with the air quality regularly reaching dangerous levels. This is partly due to climate change, with temperature rises and unpredictable rainfall patterns caused by global warming. The industrial revolution has played a significant role, contributing to the rise in global temperatures. The effects are already being felt, with 2024 witnessing record-breaking heat in India. Despite this, there is little action from society or leadership, with courts repeatedly stepping in to address issues like pollution and farm fires. The need f ...Read More >
Severe air pollution in northern India has led to a surge in demand for respiratory medications, with Foracort becoming India’s top-selling drug in October. The inhaler, used to treat asthma and COPD, recorded Rs 75 crore in sales, surpassing popular medicines like Augmentin and Glycomet-GP. Manufactured by Cipla, Foracort combines budesonide and formoterol for effective dual-action therapy. Other respiratory drugs, Duolin and Budecort, also saw increased sales. With Delhi’s Air Quality Index reaching hazardous levels, the rise in respiratory issues underscores the urgent need for better healt ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Former head of Air India and chairman of the Railway Board Ashwani Lohani is the new Prime Ministers Museum and Library (PMML) director. The official order for his appointment was issued on Wednesday. A 1980-batch officer of the Indian Railway Service of Mechanical Engineering (IRSME), Lohani is known for turning around various organisations during his illustrious career. Following his retirement from IRSME service, he joined the GMR Group as the CEO. According to the order dated June 4, his appointment to the post of director, Prime Ministers Museum and Library in the rank and pa ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 29 (PTI) The Congress on Sunday attacked the Centre and Rajasthan governments over the reported plan to redraw the boundaries of the Sariska Tiger Reserve for the reactivation of over 50 mining operations, saying the move would be "ecologically devastating". The opposition party also said that with the Rajasthan and Union environment ministers both being from Alwar, this "double engine" cannot be supporting such a move. Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh shared on X a media report which claimed that a plan to redraw the boundaries of Rajasthan's ...Read More >
Bhopal: Around 40 years after the Bhopal gas tragedy, the entire 347 tons or the toxic waste of the defunct Union Carbide factory here has finally been incinerated. The process of incineration of the last batch of 307 tons of toxic waste which began at eight pm on May five this year at the Industrial Waste Management Plant at Pithampur in Madhya Pradesh's Dhar district has been completed at 1.05 am on Monday, officials said on Monday. Thirty tons of toxic remains of the Bhopal gas tragedy were earlier disposed of at the same incineration facility at Pithampur in the three trial runs between ...Read More >
Delhi Weather Update: Delhi experienced dense fog on Thursday morning, with the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reporting a minimum temperature of 7°C. The fog led to the implementation of low-visibility procedures at Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGI), although flights continued to operate as scheduled. The weather forecast for the coming days indicates that dense fog will persist in the early morning and late-night hours on December 26 and 28. The IMD also predicts partly cloudy skies, with the possibility of very light rain or drizzle during the evening or night. As of Thursd ...Read More >
New Delhi, Jun 5 (PTI) National Green Tribunal Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava on Thursday outlined an urgent need to curb plastic pollution as it negatively impacted marine life, suffocated terrestrial ecosystems, leached harmful chemicals into soil and water. In addition, it contributed significantly to air pollution when burnt, he said. The statement came on the occasion of World Environment Day and was uploaded on the NGTs website. Shrivastava said that plastic had become an indispensable part of our lives, yet its convenience masked a devastating reality. "This nonbiodegradabl ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: The Uttar Pradesh administration has strengthened security arrangements across several districts including Lucknow, Sambhal, and Moradabad to ensure peace and avoid any disruption, as Muharram processions and the Kanwar Yatra are being held at the same time.Large crowds gathered for Muharram processions across different regions, while preparations for the Kanwar Yatra are also underway. Police personnel have been deployed in all sensitive areas, and surveillance is being carried out using drones and CCTV cameras.In SambhalDistrict Magistrate Dr Rajender Pensiya while speaking to ANI ...Read More >
Gurgaon: It took just 19 days this year for air pollution levels in Gurgaon to overshoot the limit considered safe by the World Health Organization (WHO).A study of air quality data by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found that Jan 19, 2025, was Gurgaon's 'overshoot day'. By then, particulate matter 2.5 concentration was already so high that, even if levels were to drastically reduce to zero for the rest of the year, the city would still fail to meet WHO's annual limit.The analysis also ranked the city as the fifth most polluted Indian city in the first half of 2025, wit ...Read More >
The Delhi government and IIT Kanpur have partnered to combat air pollution. They signed an agreement for cloud seeding trials in northwest Delhi. The trials will occur in October and November. Aircraft will be used for the two-month pilot project. The results will guide future actions. The project aims to demonstrate alternative technology. New Delhi, The Delhi government on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur on launching a pi ...Read More >
A crucial round of negotiations on a global plastic pollution treaty has begun in Busan, South Korea. Led by Norway and Rwanda, 66 countries and the EU are pushing for a legally binding agreement to control plastic production, consumption, and waste management. However, key points of contention include limits on plastic production and the ban of single-use plastics. With plastic production set to rise 70% by 2040, negotiators aim to protect human health and the environment while promoting recycling, reducing harmful chemicals, and supporting sustainable plastic practices. Industry leaders and ...Read More >
Delhi's air quality continues to deteriorate with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 304, falling under the "very poor" category. Several areas, including Anand Vihar, Jahangirpuri, and Mundka, reported severe pollution levels, significantly impacting visibility and health. The National Capital Region (NCR) also saw poor air quality, with areas like Noida and Ghaziabad in the "poor" range. The Supreme Court upheld restrictions under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to curb pollution. Authorities urge residents to limit outdoor activities and take health precautions as smo ...Read More >
Entrepreneur and managing director of Homestays and villas and Mangalya destination weddings, Siddharth Bakaria, was the latest victim of the horror show that the city has turned into. Delhi's air and its declining quality have unfortunately become the hallmark of the general discourse of the country towards the end of the year and almost all throughout Winter. Lungs are Burning To no one's surprise, the Winter of 2024 is no different, with the landlocked capital city breaking the most undesirable records, very early on in the season. According to reports, Delhi and its neighbouring region ...Read More >
BENGALURU: BBMP marshals deployed at lake security and supervision wing, ward monitoring and Indira Canteens are working without salaries since March. The situation has arisen after Bangalore Solid Waste Management Limited was carved out of BBMP for garbage management. Their salaries are usually given through the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Society and each marshal is paid Rs 17,500 monthly. "Supervisors say the delay is due to a set of procedures. Earlier, the amount was given to the Ex-Servicemen Welfare Society towards payments from BBMP. Now the files have to be cleared from BWSML to ward mars ...Read More >
Jorhat, July 6: An illegal ice cream and ice manufacturing unit in Jorhat has sparked alarm after revelations of unhygienic production and unsafe ingredients, with products mostly consumed by children. The factory, located in Letekujan in Titabor, has reportedly been running for a long time without any license or official permission from the authorities. Local sources allege that the factory has been producing various colorful ice creams and ice blocks using dirty water and artificial chemicals, which pose a serious threat to public health. Residents say the factory supplies its products to ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 10 (UNI) A recent large-scale Danish study has revealed that ultrafine particles in air pollution can cross the blood-brain barrier and may increase the risk of developing tumors of the central nervous system (CNS), particularly meningiomas --the most common type of primary brain tumor. The findings published in journal Neurology add to growing evidence that air pollution's harmful effects extend beyond respiratory and cardiovascular health, potentially affecting the brain as well. Given the high pollution burden in Indian metropolitan areas such as in Delhi, Mumbai, and Kolk ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 14 (SocialNews.XYZ) Delhi Home and Power Minister Ashish Sood will on Tuesday boost the 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam' campaign - inspired by the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi - by planting a sapling in the Janakpuri area, said an official. As part of the ongoing Van Mahotsav of the Delhi government, the Minister will plant a sapling at Municipal Corporation of Delhi park in A-2 Block Ram Vatika in Janakpuri, said the official on Monday. Sood's green initiative follows Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena's participation in the New Delhi Municipal Council's (NDMC) special tree plan ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], November 19 (ANI): Special measures, including the use of water sprinklers, have been implemented at the Delhi Zoo to combat air pollution and ensure that wild animals are not adversely affected. The Director of the National Zoological Park, Dr. Sanjeet Kumar, on Monday, highlighted the challenges faced by zoo management during winter. Speaking to ANI, Dr. Kumar said, "As soon as the winter season begins, the zoo management faces two challenges. First, the pollution levels rise after Diwali, and second, the onset of winter... The area around the zoo is very green, and loca ...Read More >
New Delhi: Delhi woke up to the coldest December morning on Wednesday as the minimum temperature dropped to 4.9 degree Celsius. According to India Meteorological Department (IMD), the minimum temperature was recorded 4.9 degree Celsius in Safdarjung area while it was 6.2 degree Celsius in Palam. A thin layer of fog covered several parts of the city today as the morning chill remained till around 9 am. Smog and mist conditions with predominant surface winds from the northwest direction with a speed of eight to ten km per hour are prevailing in the city resulting in the temperature drop, as p ...Read More >