Delhi Schools Shut for Two Days as Air Pollution Becomes Severe

The Delhi government declared on Thursday that all private and government schools will be closed for the next two days due to rising pollution levels in the national capital. As a result, schools will be closed on Friday (November 3) and Saturday (November 4). The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) announced in a separate notification that physical education programmes in its schools will be closed for the next two days.

"In accordance with the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjacent Areas' order, courses will be offered online in all MCD and MCD-aided schools on November 3 and 4. Schools will, however, remain open for teachers and staff," the civic authority added.

In order to reduce air pollution, the Delhi administration has also banned all non-essential construction activities in Delhi-NCR and restricted the admission of diesel trucks into the national capital. The limits were implemented as part of Stage III of the Commission for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The CAQM highlighted worries during a meeting to monitor air quality in Delhi-NCR, warning that pollution levels in Delhi are expected to rise in the coming days due to unfavourable meteorological and climatic circumstances.