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Delhi’s Worst Nightmare: Pollution Converts The City Into A ‘Gas Chamber’

People in Delhi NCR are choking in the blanket of smog as air pollution in the capital continues to be above the severe levels. Schools have been shut for few days, entry of trucks and civil construction banned, and the Odd-Even scheme to regulate vehicular traffic on city's roads will kickstart soon. Here's a glimpse of the pollution crisis that has gripped the city in the first week of November and converted it into a 'gas chamber.'

A combination of man-made causes like smoke from stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana, Delhi's inherent issues of pollution from vehicles, construction sites and waste burning, plus natural causes like wind direction, dip in temperature, moisture presence led to formation of smog, a heady cocktail of toxins, smoke and fog turned Delhi into a 'gas chamber'.

The air quality index, which measures the concentration of poisonous particulate matter in the air, hit the "severe" level of 451 on a scale where the maximum reading is 500 and where anything above 100 is considered unhealthy by the Central Pollution Control Board.

Despite Indian Medical Association (IMA) call for the condition of Delhi's air to be declared a public health emergency state and all outdoor activities to be avoided, many braved the smog to continue their fitness regime.

Braving the pollution, people exercise in a park.

Security personnel jog through thick smog at Rajpath in Delhi.

Thick, brown smog hampered visibility, slowed down traffic and disrupted train and flight operations.

Delhiites adorn masks to protect themselves from exposure to harmful pollutants

In absence of any protective gear, some students use their handkerchiefs to cover their face as smog intensifies.

A traffic policeman on duty near India Gate, which is barely visible in the thick cloud of smog.

Actor Vivek Oberoi who was in Delhi tweeted this picture of smog outside his hotel room.

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in smog, tweets a user.

Spotted on twitter: The plight of the homeless in Delhi's smog

A father tweeted how his son is creating awareness among people to stop air pollution with his wearable plant.