Delhi AQI: School classes up to 11 closed amid high pollution levels

It is expected that the speed of wind will increase on 7th and 8th November, says Rai.

In view of the plummeting air quality in the national capital, Delhi school closures have been extended up to class 11 in view of the rising pollution levels, State Environment Minister Gopal Rai said on November 6.

All schools will be shut across the national capital except Classes 10 and 12 till November 10, said Rai. Currently, only classes up to Class 5 are suspended in view of the deteriorating air quality.

Several schools in Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram and Faridabad may also consider online options for their students.

The Haryana government on November 5 directed the deputy commissioners of districts in the state falling in the National Capital Region (NCR) to decide on closing schools including private ones.

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Fourteen districts of Haryana fall in NCR. Earlier, Delhi Education Minister Atishi had said the primary schools will remain closed till November 10. She also said classes 6-12 may switch to online classes.

According to a Hindustan Times report, directorate of school education said the Haryana government has decided that the DCs should assess the situation in their respective districts in view of severe AQI levels and the implementation of GRAP 4 in Delhi-NCR.

According to the newspaper, the DCs been asked to decide on the closure or holding of classes in online mode in private and government schools, covering elementary, primary and secondary classes, in the interest of the health and safety of the students.

“The assessment for rural and urban areas of the districts concerned will be carried out separately and necessary measures may be taken accordingly,” the letter said.

Meanwhile, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is holding a high-level meeting, which is attended by Environment Minister Gopal Rai, Public Works Department Minister Atishi, Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, and Health Minister Saurabh Bhardwaj to discuss the city's air pollution crisis.

The overall AQI of the national capital is 488 (on a scale that maxes out at 500). Some of the worst-affected areas are New Moti Bagh (488) and RK Puram (466) in South Delhi, Patparganj (471) in East Delhi and ITO (402), which is in the north-eastern part of the national capital.

Minister Rai said: "As per the forecast, the wind speed will be 12km/hour tomorrow, 7th November and if the speed reaches 10 to 12 km/hour, then there is a possibility that the level of pollution accumulated here might disperse. Similarly, the wind speed will be 8-10 km/hour on 8th November. It is expected that the speed of wind will increase on 7th and 8th November which will reduce the level of pollution..."

Rai said that a call for work-from-home for 50 percent of staff in government and private offices in the national capital will be taken later.