Rising air pollution during the winter months has led to a sharp increase in respiratory emergencies in Ahmedabad and other parts of Gujarat. Several areas of Ahmedabad have recorded Air Quality Index (AQI) levels above 200 for consecutive days, triggering serious health concerns.
The poor air quality has resulted in a surge in breathing-related emergency cases. Official data shows that more than 1.29 lakh emergency calls linked to respiratory problems were reported across Gujarat in a single year.
In 2025 alone, respiratory cases rose at an alarming pace, with an average of 361 patients reported every day — nearly 15 new cases every hour.
Data from the ‘108’ emergency service highlights the growing trend. Around 91,000 respiratory-related calls were recorded in 2023, while 2025 saw an increase of nearly 40%. Ahmedabad recorded the highest number of such emergencies in 2025, with 31,162 cases, followed by Surat and Vadodara.
Respiratory emergency calls in the last three years:
- 2023: 91,657
- 2024: 1,24,209
- 2025: 1,29,351
Health experts have advised people suffering from respiratory ailments to wear masks while going outdoors. They warn that worsening indoor and outdoor air pollution, along with changing lifestyles, is leading to a rise in serious lung diseases such as Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).
Experts add that COPD in India often develops after the age of 30, especially among people with a long history of smoking or prolonged exposure to biomass fuels.