Primary schools in Delhi will remain closed until November 10 due to persistently high pollution levels, according to an announcement by Delhi Education Minister Atishi Marlena on the social media platform X.
"Atishi Marlena, Delhi's Education Minister, announced that primary schools in Delhi will remain closed until November 10 due to elevated pollution levels. Grade 6-12 schools are also being given the option to switch to online classes in light of the ongoing pollution problem," the statement read.
Delhi currently holds the unfortunate distinction of being the world's most polluted city as indicated in the real-time rankings provided by the Swiss group IQAir.
The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) recently reached a hazardous level of 471, categorizing it as a major health concern. In comparison, Lahore in Pakistan recorded a "very unhealthy" AQI of 261.
The adverse air quality conditions also had repercussions for sports activities with Sri Lanka cancelling a training session in response to the toxic air. This decision was prompted by the team's preparations for a World Cup match against Bangladesh which is scheduled to take place in New Delhi.
For reference, an AQI of 0-50 is considered good air quality, while levels between 400-500 are hazardous and have serious health implications, particularly for individuals with pre-existing medical conditions.
