CM Kejriwal terms Delhi as Gas chamber, declares school holidays till 5 Nov

New Delhi: Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday said Delhi has turned into a 'gas chamber', due to pollution caused by crop burning in neighbouring states.

Mr Kejriwal, along with Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, distributed masks to Delhi government school students, following rise in pollution levels in the city.

"Delhi has turned into a 'gas chamber' due to pollution caused by crop burning in neighbouring states.This is why we are distributing 50 lakh masks from today onwards in private and government schools. I urge all Delhiites to use them whenever needed,'' the CM said.

''Pollution level has deteriorated in Delhi due to smoke from stubble burning in adjoining states, whose number has doubled this year. People are facing difficulty in breathing, and to provide relief, we are distributing two masks to each student in private and government schools,'' he said.

Referring to Chief Ministers of Punjab and Haryana, Captain Amarinder Singh and Manohar Lal Khattar, respectively, the Chief Minister urged school students to write letters to 'Captain uncle and Khattar uncle'.

"Please write letters to Captain uncle and Khattar uncle and say, 'Please think about our health'," Mr Kejriwal said.

"The Khattar and Captain governments are forcing farmers to burn stubble, which is causing severe pollution in Delhi. Yesterday, people protested at Punjab and Haryana Bhavan and expressed their anger against governments there," he said.

The Delhi government has purchased 50 lakh N95 masks to be given to children in private and government schools. 

The air quality is in 'severe' category in areas around Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium and India Gate, according to Central Pollution Control Board on Friday.

All schools in Delhi to remain close till Nov 5: Kejriwal

In the wake of rising pollution in the national capital, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday announced that the schools in Delhi will remain closed till November 5.Taking to micro-blogging site Twitter, Mr Kejriwal said,''Due to the stubble burning, the level of pollution has increased very much in Delhi. Therefore, the government has decided that all the schools in Delhi will remain closed till November 5.''

The air quality is in 'severe' category in areas around Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium and India Gate, according to Central Pollution Control Board on Friday.Mr Kejriwal, along with Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, distributed masks to Delhi government school students, following rise in pollution levels in the city.(UNI)