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.

Residents in India's northern states woke up to another day of poor air quality on Tuesday, as a layer of dense fog shrouded most of the region, and pollution in the capital Delhi remained severe.

Kanchipuram, often called the "City of a Thousand Temples," has one of the lowest air quality index in the country. Explore countless shrines and intricate 1,000-pillared halls, and immerse yourself in its heritage by discovering its vibrant silk textiles.

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.

India, Delhi’s air quality index (AQI) on Tuesday morning stood at 492, which is worse than Monday’s 483. Monday’s 483 AQI was the season’s worst but Tuesday has plummeted further.

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.