Due to the city's current air pollution levels, Delhi Education Minister Atishi has ordered that all primary schools remain closed until November 10. For grade 6-12, schools are being given the option of shifting to online classes.
The Delhi government had initially stated that schools up to class 5 would be closed until November 5. However, an extension has been deemed necessary due to the worsening air quality in the city.
“As pollution levels continue to remain high, primary schools in Delhi will stay closed till 10th November. For Grade 6-12, schools are being given the option of shifting to online classes,” she announced on social media X.
Air quality hits 'severe plus'
The announcement comes as pollution levels in the capital have once again hit the "severe plus" category due to unfavourable wind conditions, particularly calm winds at night, according to the news agency PTI. On Sunday, a toxic haze lingered over Delhi for the sixth day in a row.
Residents of Delhi-NCR have continued to breathe the toxic air for days while the city government is trying measures to mitigate the pollution.
The relative humidity was 96 per cent, as per the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The air quality index (AQI) deteriorated from 415 at 4 pm on Saturday to 460 at 7 am on Sunday.
The following categories are assigned to an AQI: 0–50 = "good", 51–100 = "satisfactory", 101–200 = "moderate", 201-300 = "poor", 301–400 = "very poor", and 401–500 = "severe". An AQI above 500 falls in the "severe plus" category.
Steps taken so far:
All emergency measures, including a ban on polluting trucks, commercial four-wheelers, and all sorts of construction, are mandated to be initiated and enforced in the National Capital Region if the AQI exceeds 450.
Similar conditions were observed in Noida, where SAFAR-India reports that the air quality fell to the "severe" category with an AQI of 466. Gurugram recorded an AQI of 392, keeping the air quality under the 'Very Poor' category.
Delhi's air quality is among the worst among capital cities worldwide, according to a University of Chicago study, which found that air pollution reduces life expectancy by almost 12 years.
