Delhi government announces early winter break amid severe air pollution

The government said that the winter breaks that usually takes place in December will be now from November 9 to November 18. 

Delhi Air Pollution: The Delhi government has announced an early winter break for all schools amid the rising pollution situation in the National Capital. The government said that the winter breaks that usually take place in December will be from November 9 to November 18.  The air pollution in the national capital continues to remain in the ‘severe’ category. Earlier, due to the deteriorating air quality, holidays were announced from November 3 to November 10.

"In the wake of implementation of GRAP-IV measures due to Severe Air Quality prevailing in Delhi and seeing that no respite from such adverse weather conditions in near future is predicted by the IMO, the Winter Break for the session 2023-24 is ordered to be preponed so that schools can be totally closed and both children and teachers can stay at home," the circular stated.

"Accordingly, all schools shall observe Winter Break wef. 09th November 2023 (tomorrow) to 18th November 2023 (Saturday)," it added.

The air quality in Delhi and the NCR areas dropped to the severe category again with smoke from post-harvest paddy straw burning in neighbouring states accounting for one-third of the air pollution in the national capital. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 421, worsening from 395 at 4pm.

Despite a marginal dip, the concentration of PM2.5, fine particulate matter capable of penetrating deep into the respiratory system and triggering health problems, exceeded the government-prescribed safe limit of 60 micrograms per cubic metre by seven to eight times in the capital.

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