Delhi Schools To Be Closed Amid Alarming Air Pollution Level?

New Delhi: Air Quality in Delhi continues to grapple with dangerously high levels. Amid this, Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) on Wednesday called for immediate closure of all schools up to Class 5, citing severe health risks posed to children. 

party also aimed at Aam Ami Party (AAP) government for failing to dress city's growing pollution crisis, labeling Delhi a "gas chamber" and accusing ministration of neglecting public health.

At a press conference, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva urged Delhi government to take swift action to protect children, pointing out that both private and government schools should be shut down temporarily due to "hazardous" levels of air pollution. "Children and elderly are particularly vulnerable to se dangerous levels of pollution, and it is essential that schools are closed for ir safety," Sachdeva said.

Delhi Schools To Be Closed? 

call for school closures comes as air quality in Delhi has reached alarming levels, with real-time data from Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showing air quality index (AQI) at 366 on Wednesday morning—falling in "very poor" category. PM 2.5 concentrations were reported to have exceeded 400, while PM 10 levels surpassed 1,000, signaling severe pollution that poses grave health risks, especially for young children.

Sachdeva also criticized Delhi government's response, stating that AAP ministration h "utterly failed" to manage pollution crisis in city. "Delhi is now a gas chamber where people are choking and suffering from respiratory issues," he declared.

IMD on deteriorating Air Pollution 

As smog and dense fog enveloped city, visibility dropped to as low as 100 meters in certain areas, according to India Meteorological Department (IMD). pollution was furr exacerbated by a drop in temperature, which remained under 18 degrees Celsius, trapping pollutants in air due to stagnant wear conditions.

Meanwhile, Swiss-based air quality monitor IQAir’s live rankings placed Delhi ahe of Lahore, Pakistan , as world’s most polluted city on Wednesday morning, with an AQI exceeding 1,000, which is considered "hazardous" to health. 

While India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported AQI to be around 350, this figure still falls under "very poor" category, which can le to serious health complications, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Delhi battles severe air pollution each winter due to a combination of factors, including stubble burning in neighboring Punjab and Haryana , vehicular emissions, and industrial pollution. As cold, heavy air traps dust and smoke, city’s pollution levels often spike in November, creating a health emergency for residents.

Sachdeva also pointed out that despite growing health risks, government clinics have failed to provide equate care to help citizens mitigate effects of pollution. "re is a lack of essential treatments and healthcare services to deal with this crisis," he said, urging Delhi government to take immediate measures to improve public health response.