Indian capital battles dangerous levels of air pollution

Birds fly in the foreground of the rising sun as morning haze envelops the skyline in New Delhi, India (Altaf Qadri/AP)

Indian authorities have shut factories and construction sites, restricted diesel-run vehicles and deployed water sprinklers and anti-smog guns to control haze and smog enveloping the skyline of the capital region.

The Delhi government closed primary schools and restricted outdoor activity for older students as the air quality index exceeded 470, considered “severe” and more than 10 times the global safety threshold, according to the state-run Central Pollution Control Board.