For the second week, New Delhi's streets are bathed in a heavy brown haze.
It's a combination of smoke from burning farm residue in surrounding states, ash from fireworks for the Hindu festival of Diwali, dust from construction work and vehicle emissions that's pushed pollution levels to their highest in years.
At Connaught Place, a central Delhi landmark, the national flag atop its 63-metre pole has barely been visible at times.
Many residents say they feel as though they are choking.
They complain of breathlessness, watering eyes, heavy coughs and wheezing.
The Indian Medical Association has declared it a pollution epidemic and is advising people to stay at home.
Environmentalists liken the scene to a war zone, reporting hospitals are filled with infants.
The irony is it's created a booming trade for some.
There are reports from a store selling face masks that sales have increased from about six masks a week, to about 150 per day.
Similarly, the demand for air purifiers also jumped, both from locals and foreigners working in India.
Residents of New Delhi, like Arun Sharma, say the government has been too slow in dealing with the problem.
"After Diwali there was a lot of smog in Delhi. Kejriwal government and other governments are indulging in a blame game over pollution saying that the polluted air is coming from Haryana and Punjab. The government is very late in taking action in this matter."
But now there's some action from authorities.
Delhi's Health Minister, Satyendra Jain, says the government is imposing emergency measures.
"We are taking strict action. We have closed construction for five days, schools have been closed. Every action is being taken very seriously and will be carried forward."
India's Environment Minister, Anil Madhav Dave, called an emergency meeting with representatives of three states bordering New Delhi.
The meeting discussed ways to deal with rising pollution levels.
The Environment Minister says environment protection calendars will be issued to ensure the states work year-round to keep the air clean.
"We will issue an environment protection calendar which will be state-specific. It will describe what the state has to do in which month so that there is no backlog."
The Indian capital's government is considering whether to bring back a car rationing scheme to restrict the use of private vehicles.
Under the system, cars were allowed on the road only on alternate days, according to whether their number plates were odd or even.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has also reported thick smog enveloping its major cities, disrupting air traffic and triggering widespread outbreaks of allergies.
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