Alarming AQI: Schools shut in 13 districts of Haryana

CHANDIGARH: As Haryana gasped for breath on Sunday with “severe” category air pollution across most of the state, schools have been shut for two days in the districts of Jind , Fatehabad, Hisar, Sirsa, Jhajjar , Rewari, Sonipat, Charkhi Dadri, Jind, Kaithal and Panipat besides Gurgaon and Faridabad in the National Capital Region.

The Haryana government on Sunday directed all deputy commissioners, district education officers and district elementary education officers to ensure compliance in letter and spirit of the directions of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and take decision on shutting down educational institutions due to air pollution.


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On Sunday, as many as 17 towns and cities recorded “severe” category on AQI in Haryana.

The remaining nine districts have started the process to declare holidays in schools and have sought details from district units of the Haryana State Pollution Control Board and district education department offices.

An education department official said the government has laid special emphasis on protecting children from pollution. The district commissioners of all the remaining districts had been authorized to take decision regarding closure of schools on Monday and Tuesday according to local prevailing air pollution.

Keeping in view the poor visibility conditions due to smog across the state, Haryana police too issued an advisory on Sunday urging people to be cautious while driving on the National Highways.