Delhi covered by thick blanket of smog, MCD schools to remain closed on Saturday

A thick blanket of smog continued to cover the national capital on Saturday following which the schools belonging to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will remain closed on Saturday.

In the wake of excessive pollution, a few schools in the national capital region were declared holiday on Friday, while some others had suspended morning assembly on Thursday and had asked students to wear masks.

While Tagore International School in Vasant Vihar has postponed its sports day from November to February, Shri Ram School in Gurgaon and Delhi has suspended classes till Monday and delayed timings for classes X and XII from 10 AM to 3 PM.

Heritage School in Gurgaon has also suspended classes from Thursday in light of the critical weather condition.

This is the worst smog with very poor visibility in 17 years and the Indira Gandhi International Airport recorded the worst levels of smog in 17 years on November 2, with visibility as low as 300-400 metres, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) on Thursday said citing a report of the India Meteorological Department (IMD).

CSE has also asked the Delhi government to issue health alerts and convey that children should stay indoors as there is a state of health emergency due to peaking air pollution.

(With PTI inputs)