Delhi education minister Atishi said primary schools in Delhi will remain closed till November 10 as pollution levels continue to remain high in the national capital. For Class 6-12, schools are being given the option of shifting to online classes, she said.
“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.
A toxic haze lingered over Delhi for the sixth consecutive day on Sunday as pollution levels once again reached the “severe plus” category due to unfavourable wind conditions, particularly calm winds during the night, news agency PTI reported.
The air quality index deteriorated from 415 at 4pm on Saturday to 460 at 7am on Sunday.
Under the Centre’s air pollution control plan, all emergency measures, including a ban on polluting trucks, commercial four-wheelers, and all types of construction, are mandated to be initiated and enforced in the National Capital Region if the AQI crosses the 450-mark.
The concentration of PM2.5, fine particulate matter capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory system and triggering health problems, exceeded the government-prescribed safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre by seven to eight times at multiple locations throughout Delhi-NCR. It was 80 to 100 times the healthy limit of 5 micrograms per cubic meter set by the WHO.
Air quality in Delhi-NCR declined over the past week due to a gradual drop in temperatures, calm winds that trap pollution, and a surge in post-harvest paddy straw burning across Punjab and Haryana.
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board shows that Delhi’s air quality index increased by over 200 points between October 27 and November 3, culminating in a descent into the ‘severe plus’ category (above 450) on Friday.
Friday’s 24-hour average AQI (468) was the worst since the previous high of 471 recorded on November 12, 2021.
The air quality in neighbouring Ghaziabad (410), Gurugram (441), Noida (436), Greater Noida (467), and Faridabad (461) also reported hazardous air quality.
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