01/11/2018
Delhi - NCR is ranked as the poorest capital in the world with regards to Air Quality. A real-time pollution map by BERKELEY EARTH shows that Delhi is the most polluted city in the world as of now.
http://berkeleyearth.lbl.gov/air-quality/local/India
Fortunately (or unfortunately) it also has the company of 38 more cities/towns form India, in a list of 40 towns across the world having worst air quality.
http://berkeleyearth.lbl.gov/air-quality/CityAverageList.php
According to a recent report by Health Effects Insitute, Boston, Particulate Matter pollution from all major sources was estimated to be responsible for 11 lakh deaths (or 10.6% of total number of deaths) in India in 2015. If this condition across the country, one can assume the brunt of air pollution on the over-populated and extremely polluted cities like Delhi.
https://www.healtheffects.org/publication/gbd-air-pollution-india
Children and Elderly are most likely to be affected by air pollution. "Air pollution and Child Health: Prescribing Clean Air", a recent report by WHO, puts the number of deaths in children under 5 years of age due to Particulate Matter pollution (Indoor and Outdoor) at 1.01 Lakh in 2016, with females more than males.
http://www.who.int/ceh/publications/air-pollution-child-health/en/
With Diwali looming around the corner, and Winter season coming up, it will not be a surprise if Delhi turns into a gas chamber yet again.
