Toxic air: Delhi schools limit activities, Noida goes online

Schools in Noida and Greater Noida were on Thursday ordered to move classes online for students up to Class 8, while Delhi and Haryana are expected to take a decision on Friday on whether to restrict in-person classes due to bad air.

The decisions came on a day when the air quality index (AQI) reached the "severe plus" category, rising above 450 late in the evening.

For now, schools in Delhi in their own capacity have curtailed outdoor physical activity and enforced the use of N95 masks among students. A few schools have also switched to online classes.

The AQI in Delhi on Thursday was 450, according to the 4pm bulletin, but by 9pm, it rose to 454.

In neighbouring Noida, the Gautam Budh Nagar administration ordered that only online classes be held up to Class 8 for all boards until November 8. It also asked schools to curtail the outdoor activities of senior students and to stop in-person classes for them as well if possible.

"All schools have been asked to stay shut up to grade 8, but we are urging schools to stop physical classes for senior students as well.

We have also ensured more water sprinkling, shutting of industries and stopping of all construction activities," said Ritu Maheshwari, the CEO of Noida authority, who is handling additional charge as the district magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar.