Delhi schools, closed due to air pollution, likely to reopen on Wednesday | Latest News Delhi - Hindustan Times
close_game
close_game

Delhi schools, closed due to air pollution, likely to reopen on Wednesday

Hindustan Times, New Delhi | By
Nov 05, 2019 04:11 PM IST

The Delhi government had announced closure of schools till November 5 after pollution levels dipped to ‘severe plus’ category on Friday.

Schools in Delhi are likely to reopen on Wednesday as air quality in the national capital moved from ‘severe’ to the ‘very poor’ zone on Tuesday morning. The Delhi government had announced closure of schools till November 5 after pollution levels dipped to ‘severe plus’ category on Friday.

Delhi government had announced closure of schools in the national capital till November 5 due to the high levels of air pollution.(Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO)
Delhi government had announced closure of schools in the national capital till November 5 due to the high levels of air pollution.(Sanchit Khanna/HT PHOTO)

“An extension of holidays is unlikely since the weather seems to be better than what it was. However, we will take the final call later today,” a Delhi government official said.

Hindustan Times - your fastest source for breaking news! Read now.

The average air quality index (AQI) was recorded 370 at 7.30 am on Tuesday. On Monday, the overall AQI as per the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), was 407, seven notches into the ‘severe’ category. This was a considerable improvement from Sunday’s 494 AQI reading, which was the worst air day in Delhi since 2016.

On November 1, Delhi’s deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia issued a notice saying, “In the interest of the health and safety of our children, it has been decided to keep all the schools — government, government-aided, private schools in the National Capital Territory of Delhi- closed till November 5.”

On the same day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also distributed anti-pollution N95 masks to schoolchildren from government and private schools.

Principals of several schools said they would continue with suspension of outdoor activities as mandated by Directorate of Education. “As per the advisory, we will ensure no outdoor activities are conducted if schools reopen tomorrow,” said Rajpal Singh, principal of RPVV, Dwarka Sector 10.

Directorate of Education had also issued a circular on October 30 suspending all outdoor activities and instructed heads of government, government-aided and unaided-recognised schools to sensitise parents of the students on the air quality situation.

“They have been asked to ensure that no outdoor activities are organised in schools till severe pollution condition persists,” a DoE official said. Schools had also been asked to rope in members of the school management committees (SMC) to disseminate information on adopting a preventive approach, including the use of masks.

Schools in Noida, Gurugram and Faridabad were also ordered shut till November 5 due to extremely high pollution levels in these cities neighbouring Delhi.

Unveiling 'Elections 2024: The Big Picture', a fresh segment in HT's talk show 'The Interview with Kumkum Chadha', where leaders across the political spectrum discuss the upcoming general elections. Watch now!
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON
Share this article
  • ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    author-default-90x90

    Kainat Sarfaraz covers education for Hindustan Times in Delhi. She also takes keen interest in reading and writing on the intersections of gender and other identities.

SHARE
Story Saved
Live Score
OPEN APP
Saved Articles
Following
My Reads
Sign out
New Delhi 0C
Thursday, March 28, 2024
Start 14 Days Free Trial Subscribe Now
Follow Us On