Primary schools in Delhi will stay closed until November 10 due to the deteriorating air quality, announced Education Minister Atishi on Sunday. The Minister of Education also disclosed that classes 6–12 might move to online learning.
“As pollution levels continue to remain high, primary schools in Delhi will stay closed till 10th November. For grades 6-12, schools are being given the option of shifting to online classes,” Atishi said in a post on X.
Earlier on Friday, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal declared a holiday for all government and private primary schools in the national capital after the pollution levels plunged into the ‘Severe’ category.
According to the System of Air Quality Forecasting and Research (SAFAR-India), Delhi’s air quality stayed in the “Severe” category on Sunday for the fourth day in a row, despite a slight decrease in the overall Air Quality Index (AQI), which was recorded at 410 on Sunday as opposed to 504 on Saturday. SAFAR-India data indicates that the Delhi University area has 456 (Severe) air quality, while the Lodhi Road area has 385 (Very Poor) air quality. Similar circumstances 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.
According to doctors, for any healthy person, a recommended AQI should be less than 50, but these days the AQI has spiked beyond 400, which could prove fatal for those suffering from lung-related diseases and even pose a risk of lung cancer.