00:00Severe air pollution in Delhi has forced a major shift in the city's education system.
00:08Millions of school children have hard-year routines disrupted as thick, hazardous smog covers the city.
00:15With air quality dropping to dangerous levels, the Delhi government has directed schools up to class 5 to move to a hybrid system,
00:24combining online and physical classes to protect young learners.
00:30The announcement came on November 11, 2025, after a surge in respiratory illnesses among children.
00:38Health experts raised concerns that prolonged exposure to toxic air could lead to long-term complications.
00:46Officials say they will continue monitoring the situation closely and may switch to fully online classes
00:53if pollution levels worsen.
00:56During a press briefing, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta explained that decision followed the activation of Gradient Response Action Plan, Grab Stage 3,
01:07a set of emergency measures designed to reduce pollution.
01:11These include a ban on non-essential construction and new restrictions on vehicle movement.
01:18She emphasized that the safety of children remains the top priority while the government works with multiple agencies to stabilize air quality.
01:28Doctors across Delhi report rising cases of allergies, coughing and asthma attacks among children.
01:36As it happens almost every year for the past several years, Delhi again is in the grip of a very poor environmental quality
01:44and the air pollution is again going beyond, much beyond safety limits into severe zones more often than not.
01:51The air quality index has remained above 350, a level officially classified as severe.
01:58The national capital region including Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad is also struggling under the thick blanket of smoke.
02:09Delhi's crisis mirrors a long-standing environmental challenge familiar to Nigerians, particularly residents of River State during Governor Yesamweke Stenor.
02:21For years, the state grappled with widespread salt pollution largely caused by illegal crude oil refining and burning.
02:30The black salt settled on homes, streets and lungs contributing to serious respiratory problems.
02:38According to reports, over 22,000 people suffered respiratory ailment within five years.
02:46Although, a committee recommended organizing artisanal refiners into cooperatives to enforce cleaner practices, delays and political hurdles slowed progress.
02:58The river state government did take some steps, shutting down polluting plants, seizing tires using for burning and closing companies linked to emissions.
03:09But, without strong federal collaboration, the salt problem persisted, leaving cities like Port Harcourt under a constant haze.
03:19According to the State of Global Air report, 7.9 million premature deaths every year are linked to air pollution, now killing more than tobacco worldwide.
03:31It remains the largest environmental threat to human health.
03:35Both Delhi and River State show how environmental mismanagement can quickly turn into a public health emergency.
03:44And in both regions, children, the most vulnerable, we have the greatest coordinates.
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