New Delhi: 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”, wrote CM Arvind Kejriwal on X.
chools in Delhi will be closed for two days, November 4 and 5, due to the alarming surge in air pollution levels in the city. This was announced by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday.
The decision to close schools was taken after the city’s air quality index (AQI) reached 450 on Wednesday, the worst this season. An AQI of 400 or above is considered to be “severe” and can have serious health effects, especially on children and the elderly.
Kejriwal said that the government is taking all necessary steps to address the problem of air pollution, but that it is also important to protect the health of children during this time. He appealed to parents to keep their children indoors and to avoid outdoor activities as much as possible.
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.
Delhi’s air quality remained in the very poor category on Thursday, with an AQI of 351. This is just a slight improvement from Wednesday’s AQI of 364, which was the worst this season.
The main pollutants in Delhi’s air are particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, and nitrogen dioxide. PM2.5 and PM10 are tiny particles in the air that can lodge deep in the lungs and cause serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, and premature death.