Delhi air pollution: SC allows virtual hearing; Jamia Millia, DU colleges go online as AQI hits 500 mark| Key points

Delhi air pollution: Several schools and colleges will remain shut or function online as the city woke up to another morning of thick smog, a toxic blend of smog and fog. Due to poor visibility, several trains and flight services will likely remain affected on Tuesday. 

Delhi's AQI remained in the severe category on Monday at 494. Air Quality Index (AQI) in several parts of the city crossed 500 mark on Tuesday.

Amid worsening air quality, sprinklers were used in different parts of the city to curb air pollution. Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) will conduct online classes until November 22, ANI reported.

In Haryana, the Office of the Deputy Commissioner, Gurugram, announced that, as per directives from the Director of Secondary Education Haryana and after assessing the Air Quality Index (AQI) situation, all physical classes up to the 12th standard in Gurugram district will remain suspended from November 19 to November 23, or until further notice.

Air quality has deteriorated in several cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, and parts of northern India, reaching severe levels and raising concerns about health risks.

Delhi air pollution: Top points

-The Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna on Tuesday said the SC judges have been asked to switch to virtual hearings wherever possible due to severe air pollution in Delhi.

-Meanwhile, the air quality in many parts of Delhi, Noida, Ghaziabad and Gurugram reached at dangerous levels on Tuesday. Many places in these cities witnessed AQI above or at 500 mark.

-Flights and trains delayed: Due to dense fog over the national capital region over the past few days, six flights were delayed between Pune and other north Indian cities, including Delhi, The Times of India reported on Monday.

-Amid falling temperatures and a reduction in visibility due to fog, more trains are expected to be delayed in the coming days, a railway official told TOI. Meanwhile, more than 28 trains were delayed on Monday, reported Indian Express. 

-Two main universities in the national capital, Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), have decided to conduct classes online until November 22, citing severe pollution.

-Air quality has deteriorated in several cities, including Mumbai, Delhi, and parts of northern India, reaching severe levels and raising concerns about health risks.

-In Delhi and NCR, physical classes of all schools will remain shut as the Supreme Court directed the governments on Monday to implement GRAP Stage IV anti-pollution measures strictly. Delhi's AQI remained in the severe category on Monday, November 18. 

-The court further ordered the continuation of GRAP Stage IV measures even if the AQI falls below 450 and directed all NCR states and the central government to file compliance affidavits.

-All physical classes will remain suspended from November 19 to November 23 in Gururgam, according to an order by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner. The physical classes will remain suspended from Tuesday till Saturday or until further notice.

-Amid rising air pollution in the city, there has been a significant surge in patients with asthma and other breathing issues. 

-Describing the significant rise in air pollution in northern India as a “medical emergency”, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi said, “North India is choking because of the Modi government's inaction. Stubble burning incidents have escalated in BJP-ruled states like Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh, while AAP-governed Punjab has registered a decline.”

-“We are seeing that patients are having a lot of problems. Patients who have respiratory diseases like asthma, COPD patients. We are seeing a lot more patients in the OPD now. Many patients have complained their asthma is getting worse. And many of our patients have come with severe exacerbation, what we call a severe worsening of symptoms. And many patients have required admission also," said Dr Karan Madan, Associate Professor Department of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine at AIIMS Delhi.