Delhi Orders Closure of All Primary Schools Amid Worsening Hazardous Smog

Officials have announced that all primary schools in Delhi will close due to deteriorating air pollution. In a post on X, Atishi Marlena Singh, the Indian capital’s chief minister, stated that classes would transition to an online format until further notice because of the dense smog that has enveloped the city. Delhi and its neighboring cities are currently experiencing pollution levels deemed hazardous to human health. On Thursday, the concentration of fine particulate matter in the air exceeded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) safe limit by more than 50 times. Each winter, Delhi and the northern states annually contend with smog, a phenomenon attributed to a combination of decreasing temperatures, smoke, dust, reduced wind speeds, vehicle exhaust, and the burning of crop stubble. According to IQAir, a Swiss-based Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring group, Delhi’s air on Thursday contained an average of 254 pieces of fine particulate matter, or PM 2.5, per cubic metre. The WHO’s guideline for safety is a maximum of 15 over a 24-hour duration. These fine particles are capable of penetrating the lungs and impacting various organs. They are known to contribute to cardiovascular and respiratory illnesses, and research suggests they can also impede the development of young children. Furthermore, levels of larger particulate matter, designated as PM 10, averaged 495, exceeding the daily amount deemed safe by the WHO by over tenfold. Concurrently, IQAir’s monitoring revealed hazardous air pollution in the adjacent cities of Gurugram and Noida, a condition also observed in Chandigarh, a city in northern India. Local media outlets have reported that residents of Delhi are experiencing eye irritations and difficulties with breathing. A study published in The Lancet in July indicated that fine particulate pollution could be linked to 7.2% of the daily fatalities occurring in the city. While air pollution is projected to lessen in the upcoming days, it is anticipated to persist at levels considered unhealthy. Delhi’s authorities, governing an estimated population exceeding 33 million, have already implemented measures to combat the pollution, such as spraying roads with water mixed with dust suppressants. Additionally, non-essential construction has been prohibited, and residents have been advised against burning coal. However, critics contend that these actions have not been effective. The smog is so widespread that it is discernible from space. Recently, Nasa released satellite imagery illustrating its spread across northern India and extending into Pakistan. Earlier this month, officials in Lahore, a city in Pakistan, were compelled to temporarily shut down primary schools due to air pollution.