With Delhi's air quality deteriorating to severe category, the city government on Thursday announced that all classes for students up to Class V will be switched to online mode.
"Due to rising pollution levels, all primary schools in Delhi will be shifting to online classes, until further directions," Delhi Chief Minister Atishi wrote on X.
The decision to move primary classes online was made following the imposition of restrictions under Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR. These measures include a ban on construction and demolition activities and limitations on the entry of certain vehicles into Delhi.
Delhi's air quality reached 'severe' levels this week, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) soaring to 432 at 6 am on Thursday. This marked Delhi's worst air quality reading of the season and the highest in the country.
As forecasts predicted worsening conditions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) introduced stricter anti-pollution measures on Thursday evening. The GRAP-III measures will take effect from Friday.
Medical professionals have repeatedly warned that long-term exposure to "very poor" air quality can lead to respiratory issues, while severe AQI levels can affect even healthy individuals and pose serious risks for those with existing health conditions.
With deteriorating air quality, Delhi residents have been waking up to hazy mornings, with reduced visibility due to heavy fog.
