Taj Mahal concealed by toxic smog, India's capital tightens anti-pollution rules.

The Indian government prohibited non-essential construction in New Delhi, the world's most polluted capital, and urged residents to refrain from burning coal for heating to combat deteriorating air quality that has affected flights and concealed the Taj Mahal.

From Friday morning, new measures such as dust suppressants being sprinkled on roads and mechanized sweeping will be implemented.

Delhi's Chief Minister Atishi directed all primary schools to shift to online classes.

The government has issued a statement on Thursday, urging citizens to reduce their use of coal and wood for heating and to utilize more public transport, while also prohibiting non-essential construction activities. The duration of these measures remains unclear.

The Taj Mahal and the Golden Temple in Northern India have been obscured by toxic smog for the past week, with air quality deteriorating in the region.

The worst amongst global capitals, New Delhi has a severe air quality level of 424, according to live rankings kept by Swiss group IQAir.

Every winter, the city faces a battle against smog, a harmful combination of smoke and fog, caused by the trapping of dust, emissions, and smoke from illegal farm fires in cold air.

In New Delhi this year, approximately 38% of pollution has resulted from stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, where rice harvest residue is burned to clear fields.

As of Thursday afternoon, Flightradar24 reported that 88% of Delhi flights' departures and 54% of arrivals were delayed due to smog.

ALLERGIES, COUGHS, ASTHMA

The smog at the city's international airport on Wednesday was caused by high pollution, combined with humidity, becalmed winds, and a drop in temperature, which reduced visibility to 300m (980 ft). Officials blamed these conditions for diverting flights in zero visibility.

More patients flocked to hospitals, particularly children.

News agency ANI reported that a sudden increase in children with allergies, cough and cold, and a rise in acute asthma attacks has been observed in Punjab's Fazilka region, as stated by paediatrician Sahab Ram.

On Thursday, Delhi's minimum temperature decreased from 17 degrees Celsius (63 degrees F) to 16.1 degrees Celsius (61 degrees F), according to weather officials.

The earth sciences ministry stated that New Delhi's pollution is expected to remain in the "severe" category on Friday, before improving to "very poor," with an index score of 300 to 400.

The number of farm fires in northern India has increased from 1,200 on Monday to almost 2,300 on Wednesday, according to the ministry's website.

IQAir ranked Lahore, the capital of Punjab's eastern province in Pakistan, as the world's most polluted city on Thursday. Additionally, the city has faced hazardous air quality this month.