In brief
Authorities react to alarming pollution data with immediate interventions affecting millions of students.
Due to the worsening air pollution crisis, all primary schools in Delhi have been closed, transitioning to online classes until further notice. Chief Minister Atishi Marlena Singh announced the decision via social media, expressing concerns over the hazardous smog enveloping the city. Fine particulate matter (PM 2.5) in the air has exceeded safe levels by more than 50 times, as reported by the World Health Organization (WHO). On Thursday, Delhi recorded an alarming average of 254 PM 2.5 particles per cubic meter, far surpassing the WHO's 15 particles-per-cubic-meter safety limit within a 24-hour period.Delhi's air quality typically deteriorates during winter due to various contributing factors, including lower temperatures, vehicle emissions, dust accumulation, and agricultural stubble burning. According to IQAir, a Swiss organization monitoring air quality, the average levels of larger particulate matter (PM 10) reached a staggering 495, which is more than ten times the safe limit set by the WHO. Residents throughout the city have reported health issues such as eye irritation and respiratory difficulties attributed to the dire air quality.Research published in The Lancet earlier this year estimated that fine particulate pollution contributes to approximately 7.2% of the daily deaths in Delhi, highlighting the severe health risks posed by the toxic air. While authorities anticipate a slight drop in pollution levels in the coming days, air quality will likely remain at unhealthy thresholds.In an effort to mitigate this ongoing crisis, Delhi has implemented several measures, including watering roads to suppress dust, banning non-essential construction, and advising residents against burning coal. However, critics argue these efforts have not produced significant improvements in air quality. The smog has become so extensive that it is visible from space, with satellite imagery from NASA illustrating its reach across northern India and into Pakistan. The situation recently led to the temporary closure of primary schools in Lahore as well, signaling a broader regional environmental emergency. As air pollution continues to capsize the daily lives of millions, authorities in Delhi face the acute challenge of improving public health in the face of a persistent and escalating crisis.
