New Delhi, India’s capital, switched to online classes for schools on Monday due to worsening air pollution, a measure taken to address the city’s ongoing health crisis. This decision came as toxic smog continued to blanket the city, with air quality reaching dangerously high levels.
On Sunday evening, pollution levels of PM2.5 particles, which are tiny and harmful enough to enter the bloodstream, were recorded at 57 times above the safe limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO). By Monday morning, pollution was still 39 times higher than the recommended safety level, and the city was covered in a thick, grey smog.
The air pollution in New Delhi is worsened each year by activities such as stubble burning by farmers in nearby regions, as well as pollution from factories and vehicle emissions. The government imposed these new measures to prevent the situation from worsening, hoping to reduce traffic and air pollution by keeping children at home.
In a statement, Chief Minister Atishi said that physical classes for most students would be canceled, except for those in Class 10 and Class 12. Primary schools had already switched to online learning on Thursday. Additionally, authorities restricted the use of diesel trucks and halted construction activities in the city to help reduce pollution.
The government also issued a warning for children, the elderly, and anyone with lung or heart problems to stay indoors as much as possible. Many residents in the city cannot afford air purifiers, and their homes are not well-equipped to protect them from the harmful air.
New Delhi, along with its surrounding areas, is home to over 30 million people and is often ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the world, especially during winter months. Cooler temperatures and stagnant winds trap pollutants, making the air quality worse from October through January.
In response to the pollution crisis, India’s Supreme Court recently ruled that clean air is a fundamental human right and urged both the national and local governments to take stronger actions to tackle the issue.
