Air pollution: Schools reopen in Delhi even as air quality worsens

Even as the severe conditions of smog continue to engulf the National Capital Region, Delhi schools - both public and private opened on Monday in the capital.

Students were seen wearing masks, while teachers opined that collective efforts must be made to overcome the situation and closing schools not a solution.

"Schools will reopen on Monday and the break is not being further extended," a Delhi government official said.

As a thick smog hung over Delhi, leaving people gasping for breath since last week, the government had decided to close schools after it received reports from authorities concerned that the PM 10 level was recorded at "close to severe" air quality.

Meanwhile, after a brief let-up, the pollution levels skyrocketed in Delhi with the air quality becoming hazardous, which environmental agencies consider unfit for inhalation even by healthy people.

The pollution monitoring authorities said there may be some respite from Monday evening as surface winds will gain momentum.

The SAFAR (System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting And Research) said there was a possibility of rains in the evening of November 14.

However, experts say rains brings temporary relief, but also leads to accumulation of particulates due to high-levels of moisture.

The hourly graph of the Central Control Room for Air Quality Management, which had briefly fallen below emergency levels yesterday, recorded PM2.5 and PM10 concentration at 478 and 713 microgrammes per cubic metre by afternoon.

PTI