NEW DELHI: Authorities in India’s capital New Delhi have extended an emergency schools shut down by a week due to thick smog with no signs of improvement, Western media reported on Sunday.
Smog covers New Delhi every autumn, due to stubble burning by farmers in the neighboring states.
Indian capital is regularly ranked as one of the most polluted cities in the world with its annual smog blamed for hundreds of thousands of premature deaths each year.
Delhi state’s Education Minister Atishi in on X, formerly twitter said primary schools in Delhi will stay closed till 10th November as pollution levels continue to remain high.
The minister said secondary schools are being given the option of shifting to online classes.
New Delhi, world’s most polluted city
New Delhi with a population of 30 million has once again ranked as the world’s most polluted city on Sunday.
Delhi state imposes annually restrictions on construction activities and orders some vehicles off roads when pollution reaches dangerous levels.
Read Also: Toxic Haze in New Delhi Forces Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to Cancel Practice
Critics accuse the government of ignoring the public health crisis due to the agricultural activities.
The farmers in neighboring states are very powerful because of the leaders’ support who continue to violate laws pertaining to smog.
New Delhi is set to host a Sri Lanka and Bangladesh cricket World Cup match on Monday, but both teams canceled their scheduled pre-match training sessions over health risks from the smog.
Severe smog levels are likely to persist in the city for several more weeks.
