View of India’s capital New Delhi as it chokes under toxic smog Air pollution in New Delhi is likely to stay in the 'severe' category on Friday, before improving to 'very poor', or an index score of 300 to 400,

To combat worsening air quality, India's government has banned non-essential construction and encouraged residents to avoid burning coal for heating.

Toxic smog blanketed northern India on Thursday, becoming too thick to see through in several places, as high levels of pollution combined with humidity, low wind speed, and a drop in temperature, officials said.

Residents of India's capital New Delhi choked in a blanketing toxic smog Wednesday as worsening air pollution surged past 50 times the World Health Organization's recommended daily maximum.

Air quality deteriorated to hazardous levels in New Delhi on Wednesday as toxic smog blanketed India, leaving residents of the capital complaining of “apocalyptic” scenes. The crisis also affected neighbouring Pakistan,