Delhi-NCR pollution: Schools declare holiday, outdoor activities suspended

New Delhi: In the wake of excessive pollution, a few schools in the national capital region have declared a holiday on Friday, while some others have suspended morning assembly and asked students to wear masks. [caption id=“attachment_3081838” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Security personnel stand guard in front of the India Gate amidst the heavy smog in New Delhi. Reuters[/caption] 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 until Monday and delayed timings for classes X and XII from 10 am to 3 pm. Heritage School in Gurgaon has also suspended classes from Friday 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 2 November, 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). Earlier in the day, CSE 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.