New Delhi closes schools, daily life in capital stalls as air pollution spikes

Commuters drive through a thick layer of smog in New Delhi (Picture: Manish Swarup/AP)

Authorities in India’s capital have shut schools, halted construction and banned non-essential trucks from entering the city on Monday after air pollution shot up to its worst level this season.

Residents of New Delhi woke up to thick, toxic smog enveloping the city of 33 million inhabitants as the air quality became increasingly hazardous.