Primary schools in India’s capital city would remain closed until Nov. 10 due to excessive pollution levels, a Delhi government minister announced in a post on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter.
“As pollution levels continue to remain high, primary schools in Delhi will stay closed till 10th November,” said Delhi Education Minister Atishi Marlena.
For Grade 6-12, schools are being given the option of converting to online programs, she added.
New Delhi is on top of a real-time list of the world’s most polluting cities compiled by Swiss business IQAir.
The city’s air quality index (AQI) on Sunday was 471, putting it in the “hazardous” category. It was followed by Lahore in Pakistan at a “very unhealthy” of 261.
The poisonous air on Saturday had caused Sri Lanka to cancel their training session. The team was preparing for a World Cup showdown on Monday against Bangladesh in the heavily-polluted Indian capital.
An AQI of 0-50 is regarded good, whereas values 400-500 effects healthy persons and is dangerous to those with current conditions.
