Air quality in Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram reached “severe plus” levels, with most AQI stations recording a dangerous 500 on November 19, marking the seventh consecutive day of poor air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR). A thick layer of smog continued to blanket the region, prompting urgent measures from authorities.
The Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) reported that several locations in Delhi, including Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, and Bawana, recorded AQI levels at the 500-mark early on Tuesday morning. As a result, Delhi University (DU) and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) announced the shift to online classes due to the worsening air quality. DU will continue online classes until November 23, while JNU will do so until November 22, with exams and interviews remaining unaffected.
The Delhi government has declared the air quality a “medical emergency” and urged institutions to take preventive actions. Factors such as weather conditions and stubble burning continue to worsen the air pollution.
Several schools and colleges in Delhi have already switched to online classes, and the government announced that physical classes for classes 10 and 12 would be suspended, with all lessons moving online.
Also Read- Delhi Air Pollution: AQI ‘Severe’ Again; Thick Smog Reduces Visibility, Schools May Close Soon
In response to the crisis, the Union Health Secretary issued an advisory urging states and union territories to strengthen health systems and raise awareness among vulnerable groups. The advisory also recommended creating action plans to address air pollution and its health impacts, including the expansion of sentinel hospitals for monitoring related illnesses.
On the judicial front, the Supreme Court directed Delhi-NCR states to enforce the Graded Response Action Plan-4 (GRAP) to combat pollution and ensure that citizens live in a pollution-free environment. The Court criticized the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) for delays in implementing GRAP and emphasized the constitutional duty of states to protect citizens from pollution.