India, Dec. 5 -- More than 80 Padma Awardee doctors have said air pollution is no longer just a concern for the winters but a continuous threat to public health in a joint national health advisory.

Doctors from across India have issued a joint national advisory, warning that air pollution is a continuous, life-threatening risk, particularly for children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those with heart or lung conditions.

Highlighting the scale of the crisis, doctors said more than one-third of all respiratory deaths in the country are linked to poor air quality, while nearly 40 per cent of stroke-related mortality is attributed to pollution exposure.

PM2.5 levels in North India often rise 20 to 40 times above World Health Organisatio...