Pollution in Delhi hits record high, cloaking city in smog

Heavy smog in Delhi on Monday. In some parts of the city, air quality is more than 30 times the level deemed healthy. Photograph: Rajat Gupta/EPA

Pollution levels in India’s capital, Delhi, have soared to their highest levels this year, forcing schools and offices to close and cloaking the city in thick brown smog.

In some parts of the city, a live air quality ranking by IQAir put pollution levels at more than 30 times the maximum level deemed healthy.