New Delhi: Air Quality in Delhi continues to grapple with dangerously high levels. Amid this, the Bharatiya Janata Party ( BJP ) on Wednesday called for the immediate closure of all schools up to Class 5, citing the severe health risks posed to children. 

The party also aimed at the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government for failing to address the city’s growing pollution crisis, labeling Delhi a “gas chamber” and accusing the administration of neglecting public health.

At a press conference, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva urged the Delhi government to take swift action to protect children, pointing out that both private and government schools should be shut down temporarily due to the “hazardous” levels of air pollution. “Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to these dangerous levels of pollution, and it is essential that schools are closed for their safety,” Sachdeva said.

Delhi Schools To Be Closed? 

The call for school closures comes as the air quality in Delhi has reached alarming levels, with real-time data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showing the air quality index (AQI) at 366 on Wednesday morning—falling in the “very poor” category. PM 2.5 concentrations were reported to have exceeded 400, while PM 10 levels surpassed 1,000, signaling severe pollution that poses grave health risks, especially for young children.

Sachdeva also criticized the Delhi government’s response, stating that the AAP administration had “utterly failed” to manage the pollution crisis in the city. “Delhi is now a gas chamber where people are choking and suffering from respiratory issues,” he declared.

IMD on deteriorating Air Pollution 

As smog and dense fog enveloped the city, visibility dropped to as low as 100 meters in certain areas, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). The pollution was further exacerbated by a drop in temperature, which remained under 18 degrees Celsius, trapping pollutants in the air due to stagnant weather conditions.

Meanwhile, Swiss-based air quality monitor IQAir’s live rankings placed Delhi ahead of Lahore, Pakistan , as the world’s most polluted city on Wednesday morning, with an AQI exceeding 1,000, which is considered “hazardous” to health. 

While the India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported the AQI to be around 350, this figure still falls under the “very poor” category, which can lead to serious health complications, particularly for vulnerable populations.

Delhi battles severe air pollution each winter due to a combination of factors, including stubble burning in neighboring Punjab and Haryana , vehicular emissions, and industrial pollution. As cold, heavy air traps dust and smoke, the city’s pollution levels often spike in November, creating a health emergency for residents.

Sachdeva also pointed out that despite the growing health risks, government clinics have failed to provide adequate care to help citizens mitigate the effects of pollution. “There is a lack of essential treatments and healthcare services to deal with this crisis,” he said, urging the Delhi government to take immediate measures to improve public health response.