Delhi closes primary schools as harmful smog worsens

All primary schools in Delhi will be closed due to worsening air pollution, authorities have announced.

In the Indian capital, Prime Minister Atishi Marlena Singh said in a post on X that classes will be moved online until further notice due to the thick smog blanketing the city.

Delhi and nearby cities are experiencing levels of pollution that are considered dangerous to people’s health. On Thursday, the amount of particulate matter in the air was more than 50 times the amount considered safe by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Delhi and northern states face smog every winter due to a combination of colder temperatures, smoke, dust, low wind speeds, vehicle exhaust and burnt crop stumps.

An average of 254 particles of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) were detected in every cubic meter of air in Delhi on Thursday, according to Swiss-based Air Quality Index (AQI) monitoring group IQAir. The WHO considers it safe to have 15 or fewer people in a 24-hour period.

This is because fine particles can pass through the lungs and affect organs. Studies have also shown that it can cause cardiovascular and respiratory disease, while also slowing infant development.

Levels of larger particulate matter (PM 10) reached an average of 495, more than 10 times the daily amount considered safe by the WHO.

At the same time, monitoring by IQAir suggests that the northern Indian city of Chandigarh, as well as the nearby cities of Gurugram and Noida, have dangerous air pollution.

According to local media, residents of Delhi have reported eye irritation and breathing problems.

A study published in The Lancet in July found that 7.2% of daily deaths in the city can be attributed to particulate pollution.

Air pollution is expected to decrease in the coming days, but will remain at unhealthy levels.

Authorities in Delhi, which has an estimated population of more than 33 million people, have already taken steps to combat the pollution, including spraying roads with water containing dust suppressants.

Non-essential construction was also banned and residents were urged to avoid burning coal.

But critics say these measures have proven ineffective.

Smog is so widespread that it can be seen from space. Recently, NASA shared satellite images showing it spreading across northern India and into Pakistan.

Earlier this month, air pollution in the Pakistani city of Lahore forced authorities to temporarily close elementary schools.