Delhi air pollution: Primary schools to remain shut till Nov 10, online classes for seniors advised
Delhi air pollution: Due to rising levels of air pollution in the national capital, the Delhi government has extended the closure of all schools up to and including class 5 until November 10. Schools for classes 6-12 are not required to close, but they may run online classes if they want.
The Delhi government initially announced that schools up to class 5 would be closed until November 5, but the city's deteriorating air quality has warranted an extension.
"As pollution levels remain high, primary schools in Delhi will remain closed until November 10th. Schools for classes 6-12 will have the option of switching to online classes, said Delhi Education Minister Atishi in a statement.
On Sunday morning, Delhi's air remained severely polluted for the sixth consecutive day, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 460.
A suffocating blanket of toxic smog continued to engulf Delhi today, prompting doctors to express concern about an increase in respiratory and eye ailments among children and the elderly.
In the last few days, microscopic PM2.5 particles, which can lodge deep in the lungs and cause health problems, have risen to seven to eight times the government's safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre in multiple locations across Delhi-NCR. This was 80 to 100 times higher than the World Health Organization's safe limit of 5 micrograms per cubic metre.
If the AQI exceeds 450, the Centre's plan to combat pollution in Delhi-NCR requires the implementation of all urgent air pollution control measures, including a ban on polluting trucks, commercial four-wheelers, and all construction activities.
- With inputs from agencies
