India’s capital, New Delhi, transitioned to online schooling on Monday until further notice due to worsening toxic smog, marking the latest effort to address the city’s ongoing health crisis.
On Sunday evening, levels of PM2.5 pollutants — tiny, cancer-causing particles that enter the bloodstream through the lungs — were recorded at 57 times above the World Health Organization’s recommended daily limit. By Monday morning, the levels remained about 39 times above the safe threshold, with a dense, acrid smog shrouding the city.
This seasonal pollution crisis is largely attributed to stubble burning by farmers in neighboring states, along with industrial emissions and traffic fumes. In response, city authorities imposed the school closures to prevent further deterioration of the air quality.
Authorities hope that keeping children at home will reduce traffic and lessen pollution. “Physical classes will be suspended for all students except those in Classes 10 and 12,” said Chief Minister Atishi in a statement late Sunday. Primary schools had already been ordered to stop in-person classes on Thursday, and additional measures, including restrictions on diesel trucks and construction, were announced on Monday.
The government also advised children, the elderly, and individuals with respiratory or heart conditions to stay indoors as much as possible. Many residents cannot afford air purifiers or live in homes that can effectively shield them from the toxic air, which has been linked to thousands of premature deaths.
The restrictions took effect on Monday morning, as New Delhi and its surrounding metropolitan area — home to over 30 million people — regularly rank as one of the world’s most polluted cities, especially during the winter months. The cooler temperatures and stagnant winds trap pollutants, exacerbating the problem from mid-October through at least January.
In a landmark ruling last month, India’s Supreme Court declared clean air a fundamental human right, directing both the central and state governments to take immediate action to improve air quality.
