Tue Nov 19 04:02:23 UTC 2024: ## Delhi Chokes on ‘Severe Plus’ Air Pollution; Schools Shut Down
**New Delhi, India** – A thick smog has enveloped Delhi and surrounding areas, plunging the region into a severe air pollution crisis. The air quality index (AQI) reached a near-record high of 494 at 6 am today, according to the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR). Most of Delhi’s 35 monitoring stations registered an AQI of 500, the highest level on the scale.
The hazardous conditions have forced widespread closures. Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University have shifted all classes online, mirroring a decision by Delhi Chief Minister Atishi to suspend all physical classes up to the 12th grade across the capital. Schools in Noida, Haryana, and Gurugram have also transitioned to online learning. Visibility remains severely hampered by the persistent smog. The situation is expected to continue, prompting concerns about public health.
First Piper 