As the national capital is facing one of the worst air pollution in recent years, 1,800 schools in Delhi have been ordered to shut down on Saturday.

Delhi has been facing thick smog occurred after the recent Diwali celebrations in the city. The decision of closing the schools will affect around 9 lakh students studying in the Municipality schools in the city.

According to the data received from the Delhi's monitor pollution agency, the concentration of Particulate Matter or  PM 10,  knows as coarser pollutants, this morning at around 9 am at Anand Vihar was over 1,200 micrograms per cubic meter, which is 12-fold more than the safe level of 100.

According to the experts these particles can cause various respiratory diseases if one gets exposed to the unsafe levels for long time.

Spokesperson for the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, Yogendra Mann, while speaking to a news agency said, “It has been decided to keep the municipal schools shut on Saturday because of smog in Delhi. The schools will operate as normal from Monday .”

Due to rapid urbanization, which is responsible for bringing pollutants from diesel engines, coal-fired power plants and industrial emissions, the air quality of New Delhi has worsened over the years.

The crisis began after the celebrations of the last Sunday night after the Diwali celebrations, when millions of firecrackers burned in the city as part of the celebration.