Delhi air quality drops: Classes for all students except Class 10, 12 moved online

Delhi air quality drops: Amid increasing air pollution in the national capital and the GRAP Stage 4 regulations, which go into effect on Monday, Chief Minister Atishi declared on Sunday that physical classes for all students will be stopped until class 9. 

However, students in grades 10 and 12 will be required to attend physical classes. All schools would hold online classes till further notice, she noted.

She took to X and wrote, “With the imposition of GRAP-4 from tmrw, physical classes shall be discontinued for all students, apart from Class 10 and 12. All schools will hold online classes, until further orders.”

Meanwhile, the Delhi-NCR region will impose additional restrictions beginning Monday morning due to deteriorating air quality.

Earlier in the day, Delhi's air quality deteriorated significantly, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 457 at 7 p.m. on Sunday, placing it in the "severe plus" category.

The Stage-IV reaction includes an 8-point action plan to address the pollution situation.

AQI drops to 'severe-plus' category

A thick layer of smog blanketed the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) this morning as the air quality index (AQI) fell to the "severe-plus" category, prompting authorities to declare stricter pollution control measures.

Smog also reduced visibility in the national capital, which airlines said could cause flight delays. At 7 a.m., visibility in Palam decreased to 150 metres.

According to real-time statistics from the System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR), Delhi's AQI was 481 at 6 a.m., the worst thus far this season. Officials stated that it was due to "unfavourable" climatic conditions in Delhi-NCR.