Environment

Schools in New Delhi to remain closed due to high pollution levels

New Delhi, Nov 21 (EFE).- Authorities in New Delhi announced Sunday that schools will remain shut until further orders as the air quality continues to worsen in the Indian capital.

“Schools will remain closed till further orders. However, online teaching-learning activities and the examinations for board classes will be conducted as per guidelines issued earlier,” the Department of Environment said in a statement.

The decision, which was taken a week ago to prevent students from being exposed to pollution, was extended after the Air Quality Index (AQI) continued to hover above 400 for days, a level categorized as “severe.”

On the AQI scale, levels ??above 100 are considered dangerous for children, the elderly and people with respiratory or heart problems, while effects of levels above 300 are considered dangerous for all people.

The average AQI in New Delhi was 349 over the past 24 hours; however, levels have exceeded 400 for various hours of the day at some point, according to India’s Central Pollution Control Bureau (CPCB).

On Wednesday, the Delhi Pollution Control Committee banned the entry of trucks and construction activities until Sunday.

The Supreme Court has also called for urgent measures to be taken to curb these serious levels of pollution driven by emissions from factories and vehicles, seasonal crop stubble burning by farmers, construction dust, a combination exasperated by the temperature drop at this time of the year.EFE

mt/smq/jt

Related Articles

Back to top button