India, Dec. 14 -- Amid sustained high pollution levels, hospitals in Delhi are witnessing a 20-30 per cent spike in respiratory patients, including many first-time cases and young adults, doctors said. They emphasised that the ongoing pollution crisis is a serious public health risk rather than a seasonal inconvenience.

On Saturday, the city's air quality deteriorated further, slipping from the "very poor" to the "severe" category - a level that also affects otherwise healthy individuals -with readings crossing 400 in the red zone.

At 4 pm, the 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 431, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). Similar to winters in the several past years, Delhi continues to choke due to the to...