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.

Traffic passes by on a road as the sky is enveloped with smog after Delhi's air quality was classified as "hazardous" amidst severe air pollution, in New Delhi, India, November 14, 2024. (REUTERS/Anushree Fadnavis) They also include a ban on non-essential construction and an appeal to citizens to use more public transport and avoid using coal and wood for heating,

In a bid to combat the rising air pollution and smog levels in the federal capital, the Islamabad Deputy Commissioner chaired a meeting with assistant commissioners, the Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) and the Excise Department to announce stricter measures to reduce harmful emissions citywide.

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.

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,