Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is holding a high-level meeting – attended by Environment Minister Gopal Rai and senior government officials – to discuss the city’s worsening air pollution crisis. The meeting comes as the national capital battles an apocalypse-like air pollution crisis.
Delhi’s air was severely polluted for the fifth consecutive day on Monday morning with the Air Quality Index (AQI) still in the ‘severe’ category. The overall AQI in the national capital was recorded at 488. Some of the worst-affected areas in the national capital include RK Puram (466), ITO (402), Patparganj (471), and New Moti Bagh (488).
In view of the increasing air pollution levels in the national capital, the Delhi government has extended the closure of all schools up to class 5 till November 10. Schools up to classes 6-12 are not required to close, but they have the option to run online classes if they wish.
The final stage of the anti-pollution plan is activated at least three days before the AQI exceeds the 450 mark in Delhi. However, proactive implementation could not take place this time.
The AQI at 9 am was recorded at 478 in Bawana, at 459 in Dwarka Sector 8, at 475 in Jahangirpuri, at 466 in Mundka, at 460 in Narela, at 444 in New Moti Bagh, at 446 in Okhla Phase-2, at 469 in Punjabi Bagh, at 462 in RK Puram, at 478 in Rohini, at 430 in Siri Fort, and at 482 in Wazirpur, among others.
A suffocating blanket of toxic smog continued to cloak Delhi today, prompting doctors to raise concerns about the growing number of respiratory and eye ailments among children and the elderly.
