Delhi air pollution: Schools shut as air quality turns severe

Heavy smog seen engulfed amid rise in pollution levels at Barakhamba on November 2, 2023 in New Delhi, Indiashabby pictures

Authorities in Delhi, the capital of India, have closed all elementary schools for two weeks as air pollution levels continue to rise.

On Thursday, the city’s air value dropped to dangerous levels for the first time this year.

According to experts, it is anticipated to get worse over the next two months.

To assess the situation, Delhi’s culture minister has convened an urgent meeting. The nation’s money is one of the most polluted cities in the world.

Due to a variety of factors, including farmer crop residue burning, small wind speeds, and fireworks bursting during festivals, Delhi’s air becomes particularly harmful in the winter.

According to studies by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, the state’s air pollution mountains between November 1 and 15, when there are more instances of grass burning in the nearby state of Punjab and Haryana.

According to government statistics, the focus of PM2.5 – good particulate matter that can contaminate lungs and cause a variety of diseases— exceeded the safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic inch by seven to eight times on Thursday night in many areas of the city and its suburbs.

Arvind Kejriwal, the chief minister of Delhi, soon declared that on Friday and Saturday, all primary schools — public and private — would remain closed.

A key pollution control board ordered an immediate restrictions on non-essential construction work in the city as part of the next stage of its Graded Response Action Plan to fight the effects of increased pollution.

All public transportation systems, including the Delhi rail and electronic bus services, were told to increase their frequency in the second phase, which was put into effect last week, in order to reduce vehicle emissions.

The production, sales, and use of fireworks within the area were all outlawed by the Delhi state next month. For the past three decades, the custom has been in position.

Every year, Delhi people experience severe health problems due to poisoned air.

Due to the deteriorating air quality, health experts are reporting an increase in cases of pneumonia and lung problems in young people and the elderly.

According to Jugal Kishore, director of the state’s Safdarjung Hospital,” we are recording a boom in the number of acute bronchitis infections.”

He advised people with breathing problems to avoid going outside unless absolutely needed.