Jaipur: The administration of Khairthal-Tijara district in Rajasthan has announced that schools will shift to online classes for students of classes 1 to 5 for four days, starting Wednesday, due to alarmingly high pollution levels in Delhi-NCR.  

The directive, issued by District Collector Kishore Kumar on Tuesday, follows the Supreme Court's instructions to all states in the Delhi-NCR region to evaluate the continuation of physical classes for students up to class 12 amid the worsening air quality.  

Khairthal-Tijara, carved out of Alwar in August 2023, is part of the National Capital Region (NCR).  

As per the order, all government and private schools in the district will suspend physical classes for students in classes 1 to 5 from November 20 to 23 or until further notice, whichever is earlier. Teachers will conduct online classes for students during this period.  

The order applies only to students, while teachers are required to attend school to facilitate online teaching.  

An Air Quality Index (AQI) of 380 was recorded in Bhiwadi (Khairthal), while hazardous air quality levels were also observed in Karauli and Bikaner. Additionally, the AQI exceeded 200 in several districts, including Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Ganganagar, Tonk, Banswara, Dausa, Sawai Madhopur, Kota, and Pratapgarh, among others. A total of 26 districts in Rajasthan reported an AQI above 200.  

The cleanest air was found in southern Rajasthan, including districts such as Sirohi, Pratapgarh, Sikar, Rajsamand, Barmer, and Ajmer.  

On November 18, the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) enforced the fourth stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Khairthal-Tijara district. Consequently, measures such as water sprinkling and the use of smog guns were implemented to control dust in the city.  

In Bhiwadi, pollution levels caused the sky to remain covered in smog throughout the day, significantly reducing visibility. Residents reported eye irritation and difficulty breathing due to the deteriorating air quality.