The Delhi government has decided to shut classes for all students up to Grade V and banned outdoor activities or assemblies on Wednesday in all the city schools in view of the massive air pollution and smog in the national capital.
“All primary schools will remain closed tomorrow. If needed, we will extend the order till day after. Outdoor activities including assemblies should not take place in schools,” Delhi’s Education Minister Manish Sisodia said.
The Delhi government’s decision followed a tweet by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, in which he called the city a “gas chamber” and asked Sisodia to consider shutting the schools for a few days.
“Delhi has become a gas chamber. Every year this happens during this part of year. We have to find a solution to crop burning in adjoining states,” Kejriwal tweeted.
Meanwhile, District Magistrate of Ghaziabad directed all schools till Class 5 in the region to shut tomorrow and day after, on account of the rising air pollution.
Delhi woke up to ‘severe’ air quality on Tuesday with a thick haze blanketing the city as pollution levels breached permissible standards by multiple times.
Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) today saw its worst ‘air quality’ and ‘smog situation’ of the year — which was even worse than a day after Diwali, as a yellow blanket of smog hung heavily in the sky. The pollution level rose to dangerous levels, with 18 out of 21 active pollution monitoring stations recording ‘severe’ air quality.
A number of schools in Delhi today already suspended their outdoor activities and advised parents to ensure their children wear masks.
“Dear parents, please note that due to high pollution levels/unfavourable weather conditions in Delhi, morning sports practice has been suspended for a few days,” read a message by Sanskriti School.
Shri Ram School also issued a notice to parents along those lines. Tagore International School has truncated outdoor activities to once a week since Diwali considering high pollution levels.
Mount Carmel School in an advisory said: “Dear parent, due to increased pollution levels and poor air quality, students are advised to wear masks to school from tomorrow.”
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