With the air quality in the National Capital Region (NCR) reaching alarming levels, the Gautam Buddh Nagar District Administration has decided to hold online classes for students of classes 1 to 8 of all schools in Noida and Greater Noida from Friday till November 8.

In a late evening order on Thursday, the schools were told to shift to online mode and also ban all outdoor activities like sports or meetings.

“As far as possible, classes 9 to 12 should also function in online mode and, until the next order, all outdoor activities in all schools are prohibited. All principals should ensure that the order is followed,” read the order.

Noida’s Air Quality Index touched nearly 400 as thick smog engulfed the entire NCR on Thursday.

Seeing the deteriorating air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has also stopped the entry of truck traffic into Delhi except for trucks carrying essential commodities or providing essential services besides all CNG/electric trucks.

It also ordered the implementation of GRAP Stage 4 in Delhi-NCR banning construction works in public projects and closing down all industries in NCR, even in areas that do not have PNG infrastructure and supply but still running on fuels, other than the fuels as per the Standard list of approved fuels for NCR.

Industries like milk and dairy units and those involved in manufacturing life-saving medical equipment/devices and medicines shall however be exempted from the restrictions.