Due to worsening air pollution, all primary schools in Delhi will be closed, officials have announced. The city’s chief minister, Atishi Marlena Singh, shared the update on X, revealing that classes will be held online until further notice due to thick smog enveloping the capital.
Delhi and nearby cities are experiencing hazardous levels of pollution, with fine particulate matter in the air exceeding 50 times the safe limit recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO).
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On Thursday, the air quality index (AQI) showed alarming levels of PM2.5 — fine particles capable of penetrating deep into the lungs — with an average of 254 micrograms per cubic meter, far beyond the safe limit of 15 set by WHO.
In addition to the dense smog, PM10 levels — larger particles — reached an average of 495 micrograms per cubic meter, more than 10 times the daily safe threshold.
Experts warn that exposure to such high levels of particulate pollution can cause respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, and delay development in children.
The pollution, primarily caused by a combination of cold temperatures, vehicle emissions, crop-burning practices, and limited wind flow, is a recurring issue during the winter months in Delhi and northern India.
Areas like Gurugram, Noida, and Chandigarh are also facing similarly hazardous air quality.
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