In response to the alarming surge in air pollution levels in the national capital, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday announced that all government and private primary schools in the city will remain closed for the next two days.
“In light of the rising pollution levels, all govt and private primary schools in Delhi will remain closed for the next 2 days,” Kejriwal said in a social media post on X.
Online classes, however, will be held in schools run by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The schools will remain open for teachers and staff.
Directorate of Education, Delhi, in an order, said that all preschool, pre-primary and primary classes (Nursery to Class V) in physical form will remain suspended on these two days.
"Teachers of these classes shall conduct classes on Online mode," the order stated.
Delhi has been grappling with hazardous air quality in recent days, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) reaching severe levels, primarily due to a combination of factors, including stubble burning in neighbouring states, vehicular emissions, and industrial pollution.
The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) was 402 at 5 pm, the worst this season so far. The 24-hour average AQI was 364 on Wednesday, 359 on Tuesday, 347 on Monday, 325 on Sunday, 304 on Saturday, and 261 on Friday.
{{/usCountry}}The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) was 402 at 5 pm, the worst this season so far. The 24-hour average AQI was 364 on Wednesday, 359 on Tuesday, 347 on Monday, 325 on Sunday, 304 on Saturday, and 261 on Friday.
{{/usCountry}}The announcement came shortly after the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) in Delhi-NCR in an order stated that all actions outlined under Stage III of the GRAP for 'severe' air quality have been initiated with immediate effect. The panel observed that the average air quality index (AQI) in Delhi is on a sharp rise and is “only expected to increase further owing to the highly unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions”.
The series of stringent measures includes a ban on non-essential construction and demolition activities.
GRAP categorises actions into four stages: Stage I - 'poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage II - 'very poor' (AQI 301-400); Stage III - 'severe' (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV - 'severe plus' (AQI above 450).