Pictures: Delhi prepares for new lockdown as schools shut indefinitely amid pollution crisis

Vehicles commute in the dense smog as the city's air quality decreases to 'Severe Category', due to rising air pollution, in New Delhi. Air quality in Delhi - among the world's most polluted cities - regularly plummets to the "severe" category in winter, with levels of harmful particulates at dangerous levels.

Schools were closed indefinitely and some coal-based power plants shut down as the smog-shrouded Indian capital and neighboring states invoked harsh measures Wednesday to combat worsening air pollution after an order from the federal environment ministry. Above, people exercise on a smoggy morning at Lodhi Garden in New Delhi, India.

The measures come as India's top court is deliberating whether New Delhi should go into a lockdown as a blanket of thick, gray smog continued to envelope the city, particularly in the mornings. The panel issued the guidelines on Tuesday night to stem the pollution and to show residents that the government was taking action to control an environmental crisis that has been plaguing the capital for years.

Vehicles ply on a Signature Bridge as dense smog engulfs the city. Besides the closure of schools, the Commission for Air Quality Management ordered a stop to construction activities until Nov. 21 and banned trucks carrying non-essential goods. The panel also directed the states to "encourage" work from home for half of the employees in all private offices.

A anti-smog gun is used to spray water droplets to curb air pollution during a smoggy day, near ITO in New Delhi.

Women pray amidst the foam covering the polluted Yamuna river on a smoggy morning in New Delhi.

Commuters travel amidst the heavy smog and traffic during morning hours as pollution persists in the city in New Delhi. Implementing work from home policy in Delhi-NCR and closing down industries are some of the steps suggested by the Delhi government in a meeting of the Commission for Air Quality Management held on Tuesday, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said.

A woman carrying a child walks across a footbridge under heavy smoggy conditions.

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday had announced various emergency measures, including the closure of schools for a week, ban on construction activities and work from home for government employees, to deal with the pollution crisis faced by the city.

A general view of Vijay Chowk as dense smog engulfs the city, in New Delhi.

Commuters make their way amid heavy smog conditions pass an anti-smog gun spraying water to curb air pollution in New Delhi.

The Supreme Court on Monday had directed the Commission For Air Quality Management to hold a joint meeting and on Tuesday, the states of Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh participated in the meeting.

A man rides a camel as traffic plies on a road with headlights on, amid smog in New Delhi.

A couple poses during a pre-wedding photo shoot near India's Presidential Palace which is shrouded in smog, in New Delhi.

Despite some improvement in New Delhi air over the past two days, readings of dangerous particles Wednesday were still as high as seven times the safe level, climbing above 300 micrograms per cubic meter in some parts of the city.

Commuters travel through smog as the city's air quality decreases due to rising air pollution at Burari, in New Delhi.

An office-goer crosses a foot over bridge amidst morning haze and toxic smog in New Delhi, India, Wednesday, Nov. 17, 2021. Schools were closed indefinitely, and some coal-based power plants shut down as the Indian capital and neighbouring states invoked harsh measures Wednesday to combat air pollution after an order from the federal environment ministry panel.

Commuters drive amidst morning haze and toxic smog in New Delhi.

A volunteer stands on a zebra crossing holding a banner asking drivers to switch off the engine of their vehicles while waiting at a red light, as part of a campaign against pollution, in New Delhi.