India's government banned non-essential construction in New Delhi, the world's most polluted capital, and urged residents to avoid burning coal for heating, to combat worsening air quality that has disrupted flights and obscured the Taj Mahal.

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,

Delhi's air quality remained severely hazardous for the fourth consecutive day, with a thick smog layer blanketing the city. The Air Quality Index (AQI) reached alarming levels, prompting concerns about respiratory and cardiovascular health.

Every year, Delhi and northern states battle hazardous air during the winter months of October to January due to plummeting temperatures, smoke, dust, low wind speed, vehicular emissions and crop stubble burning. This time, experts say that the condition is likely to get worse in the coming days.

Delhi recorded the worst air quality in India on Wednesday with a severe AQI of 418 while Noida and Gurugram also faced very poor levels.