With Delhi pollution during winter and heat wave during summer, the recovery of inbound tourism to pre-Covid levels faces huge obstacles.

Whatever the causes of the smog, by one ranking Delhi was not just the most polluted city in the world, but “nearly five times as bad as the second most polluted city, Dhaka,” in Bangladesh next door, as Shashi Tharoor, a leader of the opposition in Parliament and best-selling author, posted on X.

India's capital city of Delhi has virtually shut down as air pollution hit "severe plus" levels, according to Indian government officials in its pollution control authority.

State authorities tout an experimental plan that involves stimulating clouds for rain, but scientists are sceptical.

Unhealthy

A thick blanket of toxic smog engulfed most parts of northern India on Monday and readings of air quality in the capital New Delhi hit their highest this year after dense fog overnight. Visibility dropped to 100 m (109 yards) in Delhi and Chandigarh,

Delhi's air quality improved slightly on Tuesday. Wind speed helped clear some pollution. The AQI shifted from 'severe' to 'very poor'. GRAP-IV restrictions remained in place. Schools continued hybrid learning.