Toxic smog blanketed New Delhi on Monday morning, with pollution levels in parts of India’s capital reaching 50 times higher what's deemed safe by the World Health Organization.

Authorities implemented emergency measures, including deploying water sprinklers in an effort to mitigate some of the air pollution. Schools were closed, construction was halted and non-essential trucks were banned from entering the city.

Vulnerable residents, including children, the elderly and those with chronic diseases or respiratory issues, were urged to stay inside, and airlines warned of delays due to poor visibility. More than 33 million people live in the capital region of Delhi, and forecasts predict the poor air quality will last through the week.

Winter brings higher levels of pollution in India, as farmers burn crop waste. Colder air traps the smoke lower to the ground, which then mixes with industry and coal power emissions. Each year, more than a million deaths across the country are tied to air pollution, and critics have called for better long-term solutions.
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