Delhi: Capital faces worst AQI of year at Severe plus levels for 7th day straight, Universities, schools go online

New Delhi: The air quality across Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram has deteriorated to alarming levels, with AQI readings reaching 500 (severe plus) in multiple locations. On Tuesday morning, November 19, areas like Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Bawana, and Jahangirpuri recorded the maximum AQI, shrouding the region in a dense smog for the seventh consecutive day. This environmental crisis has prompted the government and institutions to implement emergency measures.

Universities Switch to Online Classes Amid Pollution

In response to the worsening air quality, Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University announced a temporary shift to online classes. DU stated that in-person classes will resume on November 25, while JNU will conduct online sessions until November 22. Despite these adjustments, exams and interviews will proceed as scheduled, the universities confirmed.

Following an advisory by Delhi’s Chief Minister Atishi, all in-person classes, including those for grades 10 and 12, will move online. "From tomorrow, physical classes shall be suspended for Class 10 and 12 as well," Atishi wrote on X. The Delhi Directorate of Education has directed schools across the region to suspend on-campus learning until further notice.

Health Advisory and Emergency Measures

The Union Health Secretary issued a detailed advisory urging states and UTs to bolster healthcare systems, especially for vulnerable groups. Measures include expanding sentinel hospitals to monitor air-pollution-related illnesses and devising district-level action plans to combat pollution's health effects. Authorities have been instructed to strictly enforce the Graded Response Action Plan-4 (GRAP) restrictions.

Supreme Court Intervention on Pollution Control

The Supreme Court has ordered all Delhi-NCR states to form teams to ensure immediate enforcement of GRAP measures. Stressing the constitutional duty to protect citizens' right to a clean environment, the court criticized the Commission for Air Quality Management for delays in implementing pollution control strategies.

The city's deteriorating air quality is attributed to adverse weather conditions and stubble burning in neighboring states. Officials have declared the situation a “medical emergency,” urging swift and collective action to safeguard public health.