Smog in New Delhi Forces Schools to Stay Closed

NEW DELHI: New Delhi is struggling with thick smog again, with air quality reaching dangerous levels on Friday. As a result, authorities shut down all primary schools and moved lessons online to protect children from the harmful pollution.

The city, with over 30 million people, regularly faces this pollution crisis during the winter months. The smog is blamed for thousands of early deaths each year, and despite government efforts, the problem continues to get worse.

On Thursday, the government ordered schools to close and took other steps like banning construction work, restricting old diesel vehicles, and spraying water on roads to reduce dust. However, the air quality remained “hazardous,” with pollution levels more than 26 times higher than what is considered safe by the World Health Organization.

Many people, like Satraj, a local resident, support the school closures. “My 8-year-old has been coughing for days,” he said. “The government did the right thing.”

The smog is caused by several factors, including farmers burning crop residue in nearby states, emissions from industries, vehicles, and burning waste. A report mentioned that over 7,000 farm fires were recorded in Punjab, to the north of Delhi.

Experts say that long-term solutions, such as improving how the city manages transport, power, and waste, are needed to fix the problem. Weather conditions like cooler temperatures and light winds also make the pollution worse.

In 2019, a study linked air pollution to 1.67 million early deaths in India, showing how serious the health risks are.