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.

New Delhi was the most polluted city in the world for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, wrapped in a dense and toxic smog – mixture of fog and pollution – raising air pollution to levels over 60 times considered safe by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Delhi recorded air pollution more than 17 times above an acceptable level as worsening smog triggered curbs on trucking and shuttered construction sites and schools.

Air quality in northern India has worsened over the past week, with New Delhi's AQI recording a reading of 465, classified as "severe plus category", on Sunday evening due to unfavourable meteorological conditions,

Delhi's new action plan to combat rising pollution includes a ban on non-essential trucks, school closures, and remote work.