As the city recorded a sharp dip in air quality, the Delhi Deputy CM and Education Minister Manish Sisodia confirmed that all primary schools will remain closed tomorrow. He added that if the situation arose, then they would extend the order till the day after.
He said: “All primary schools will remain closed tomorrow, if needed will extend order till day after. Outdoor activities including assemblies should not take place in schools.”
Earlier today Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal asked his deputy Manish Sisodia to consider shutting schools for a few days in view of the high pollution in the city, prompting him to convene a meeting of officials of education, health and environment departments.
Sisodia, who is also Delhi's education minister, has directed the environment department to submit a report on the city's pollution level by this evening.
Today, Delhi woke up to 'severe' air quality with a thick haze blanketing the city as pollution levels breached permissible standards by multiple times.
Earlier today, the chief minister tweeted, "Considering high level of pollution, I have requested Manish Sisodia, Education Minister, to consider closing schools for few days."
The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also appealed to the Delhi government to shut down outdoor sports and other such activities in schools keeping in view the harmful impact of air pollution on the health of the children.
The rapid fall in air quality and visibility began last evening as moisture combined with pollutants shrouded the city in a thick cover of haze.
By 10 am today, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) recorded 'severe' air quality, meaning the intensity of pollution was extreme.
(With Agency Inputs)