Noida, Ghaziabad Schools Shift to Online Classes Amid Severe Air Pollution

In response to worsening air quality, the district administrations of Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida) have directed schools to suspend physical classes and move to online learning for students up to Class 12. The decision, announced late Monday, comes under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to combat severe pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR).

Manish Kumar Verma, District Magistrate of Gautam Buddh Nagar, issued an official order stating, “All schools in the district shall discontinue physical classes from Pre-School to Class 12 until November 23. Classes will continue in online mode to ensure students’ safety.” Similarly, Ghaziabad District Magistrate Indra Vikram Singh emphasized public health concerns, declaring that schools in Ghaziabad will remain closed for offline classes until further notice.

Authorities also conducted night-time inspections at construction sites in Noida to enforce the GRAP ban on construction and demolition activities. Utsav Sharma, Regional Officer of the Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board (Noida), confirmed these measures were taken to ensure strict compliance.

The GRAP, implemented by the Centre’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), is a graded system of measures to tackle pollution, including bans on industrial and construction activities, traffic restrictions, and dust control protocols. Stage IV indicates the highest level of action due to hazardous air conditions, affecting millions across the region.

The decision highlights growing concerns over the health impacts of air pollution, particularly on children, as officials continue to monitor and address the crisis.

News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”