New Delhi - Authorities in New Delhi have ordered the closure of primary schools in response to persistently severe levels of air pollution that have shrouded the city and its surrounding regions, posing health risks to residents.
According to Philippines News Agency, New Delhi's air quality has remained in the 'severe category' for consecutive days, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 454 on Sunday. This level of pollution, which the bulletin indicates may persist until November 9, poses potential respiratory risks even to individuals in good health. An AQI between 0-50 is generally regarded as safe, with minimal impact on health.
The Federal Ministry for Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has attributed the alarming surge in pollution to a combination of adverse meteorological conditions, the prevalence of farm fires in neighboring states, and the transportation of pollutants to the capital by low-speed north-westerly winds.
Crop stubble burning, a post-harvest practice in the adjacent agricultural regions, is a significant contributor to the deteriorating air quality experienced during the winter months, especially from November to January, which has become an annual environmental challenge for the city.
In response to the health emergency, Delhi's Education Minister Atishi Marlena announced the closure of primary schools until November 10 to safeguard young students from the hazardous air. Meanwhile, complaints from citizens experiencing eye irritation and sore throats are mounting as the dense smog lingers.
Highlighting the broader implications of India's air quality crisis, a study published in The Lancet Planetary Health journal reported that pollution was responsible for over 2.3 million premature deaths across the country in 2019 alone, reflecting the urgent need for sustainable solutions to the country's air pollution problems.