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.

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.

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).

India's capital was left gasping this week as air pollution smog reduced visibility to near zero and raised air quality levels more than 130 times safe limits.

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

At least 18 zones in the national capital recorded an AQI of over 450, falling in the ‘severe plus ’ category, CPCB data showed