India responsible for 70% of global air pollution deaths, finds Lancet Countdown report
New Delhi: The Lancet Countdown on Health and Climate Change 2025 study conducted by University College London in collaboration with the World Health Organization says that, India accounts for about 70% of all global air pollution-related deaths, while air pollution kills approximately 2.5 million people worldwide.
According to the report, as a result of anthropogenic air pollution around 1.72 million people die each year in India, which is a 38% increase since 2010, specifically those who are exposed to PM2.5.
The report attributed 44% of India’s air pollution-related deaths, around 752,000, to fossil fuel use. It also noted that coal alone accounts for 394,000 deaths, largely from emissions produced by power plants. Additionally, petrol used in road transport contributes to 269,000 deaths.
PM2.5 exposure due to wildfire-related, results in an average of 10,200 deaths per year, between 2020 and 2024, making it a 28% rise compared to the 2003-2012 period.
The report noted that household pollution continues to be a major concern, particularly in rural India and mentioned that in 2022, it has resulted in an average of 113 deaths per 100,000 people, with rural mortality (125) notably higher than urban (99). The economic cost of premature deaths from outdoor air pollution was estimated at USD 339.4 billion, equivalent to 9.5% of India’s GDP that year.
The report also points to worsening heat exposure. Indians faced 50% more heatwave days in 2024, enduring 366 additional hours of heat stress, which led to an average loss of 419 labour hours per person per year—a 124% increase compared to 1990–99. This loss in productivity has been estimated at USD 194 billion in income loss.
The area experiencing at least one month of extreme drought every year has increased by 138%, from 14.1% in 1951-60 to 2015-24. Rising temperatures and humidity have also accelerated disease transmission. Dengue reproduction rates doubling over seven decades and Vibrio infections increasing by 46% in coastal areas compared to the 1982-2010 baseline.
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Siddaramaiah seeks Centre's urgent intervention over commercial LPG cylinder shortage
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday sought the Centre's urgent intervention to ensure supply of adequate commercial LPG cyclinders to hotels and restaurants in Bengaluru.
He said hotels, restaurants and catering establishments in the city would be forced to suspend operations if supplies are not restored, affecting a large number of students and working professionals who depend on them for regular meals.
In his letter to Union Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, he also requested him to issue appropriate directions to the oil marketing companies to address the current supply constraints that would help ease the situation.
Referring to the March 9 order issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas prioritising LPG supply for domestic consumers, Siddaramaiah said while the intention behind the order to ensure uninterrupted LPG supply to households across the country is well understood and appreciated, its implementation appears to have led to an unintended shortage of commercial LPG in Bengaluru.
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He cited that several hotels and restaurant associations in the city have reported that they are unable to procure commercial LPG cylinders, and many establishments are expressing concern that they may have to temporarily shut operations if supplies are not restored soon.
Bengaluru has a large ecosystem of small restaurants, mess facilities, and catering units that serve lakhs of people every day.
According to him, as per the discussions held with the oil marketing companies, the state's commercial LPG demand has traditionally been supported by supplies from the three OMCs-IOCL (around 500-550 MT per day), HPCL (around 300 MT per day) and BPCL (around 230 MT per day) and the sudden disruption of this supply is now severely affecting hotels, catering establishments and other commercial users in Bengaluru.
Any disruption to their functioning will have a direct impact on daily life in the city, he said.
"This issue also affects a large number of students and working professionals who live away from their homes and depend on hotels and mess facilities for regular meals. In addition, Choultries (wedding halls), hostels, and event venues that rely on commercial LPG for food preparation are also facing uncertainty, particularly with scheduled social and community events," the chief minister said in the letter.
Given the scale of dependence on commercial LPG in a metropolitan city like Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah sought the union minister's intervention to ensure that adequate commercial LPG supply is made available to hotels, restaurants, choultries, community halls and any other pure commercial establishments.
"Appropriate directions to the oil marketing companies to address the current supply constraints would help ease the situation. A timely resolution will help ensure that businesses continue to operate smoothly while also avoiding inconvenience to thousands of people who rely on these services on a daily basis," he added.
