Delhi schools shift online as city faces hazardous air quality
On Monday morning, a dense haze covered the city, reducing visibility and causing delays for flights and trains. Delhi’s air quality index (AQI), which measures pollutants such as PM2.5—fine particles that can damage lungs—was over 30 times the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization. Such levels pose serious health risks, especially for children and the elderly.
Air pollution in Delhi peaks during the winter months due to a combination of industrial emissions, vehicle exhaust, lower temperatures, weak winds, and the seasonal burning of crop stubble in neighboring states. Early Monday, the government’s Safar app reported an average AQI of 471. India classifies air quality from 101–200 as moderate, 201–300 as poor, 301–400 as very poor, and anything above 400 as severe. Government apps cap readings at 500, though private and international monitors often record even higher levels.
The city had seen a slight improvement over the past week, with AQI fluctuating between poor and very poor. However, the situation worsened over the weekend. On Sunday, India’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) escalated the alert to the highest level of its graded response action plan (GRAP), moving from “level III” to “level IV.”
Under the plan, older diesel trucks are banned from entering the city, construction activity has been suspended, and schools have switched to hybrid learning, with younger students required to study online. The Supreme Court of India also advised lawyers and litigants to attend hearings virtually.
The CAQM cited high humidity and a shift in wind direction for the sharp deterioration, which limited pollutant dispersion and encouraged smog formation. Authorities have urged residents—particularly children and those with respiratory or heart conditions—to stay indoors and wear masks if they go outside.
Prolonged exposure to severe pollution can harm even healthy individuals. Between 2022 and 2024, over 200,000 cases of acute respiratory illness were recorded in six state-run hospitals in Delhi, highlighting the ongoing health crisis caused by air pollution.
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