Schools run by Delhi municipal corporations closed tomorrow

Schools under all the three municipal corporations will be closed tomorrow in view of deteriorating quality of air in the city.

The South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC), in a statement, said, "SDMC has decided to keep closed its all schools tomorrow - Wednesday - due to pollution related heavy smog."

East Delhi Municipal Corporation (EDMC) mayor Neema Bhagat confirmed closure of all its schools.

"The schools will remain closed tomorrow. Regarding EPCA's recommendation for hiking vehicle parking fees by four times to tackle the pollution crisis, we will discuss the matter tomorrow and take an appropriate action," Bhagat said.

A North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) spokesperson said schools of the civic body will be closed, however teachers have to be present.
 

Over nine lakh children study in more than 1,800 municipal schools run by the three civic bodies in Delhi.

The Delhi government has announced that its primary sections of its schools would be closed tomorrow and all schools have been asked to stop outdoor activities, including morning assemblies.

Delhi's air quality was at the season's worst today as a combined effect of smoke from stubble burning and moisture turned the city into a "gas chamber" leaving people gasping and prompting authorities to announce a four-fold hike in parking fees among a series of sweeping measures.

Poor visibility hampered flight operations, leading to delays in schedule of over 300 flights by up to two hours as only one of the three runways could be used while around 25 Delhi-bound trains were delayed.

The air quality index was in the 'severe', with a score of 448 in a scale of 500, category for the second time this year. Earlier, Diwali fireworks had triggered peak pollution levels on October 20.