The air quality in New Delhi was rated as "severe" for the third day in a row. A thick gray haze covers the city, making travel and outdoor activities both dangerous and difficult.

About 1,000 children ran a race in thick smog in the Indian capital New Delhi as schools were closed due to hazardous air quality.

The air quality in Delhi remained in the severe category with the AQI being recorded at 460, the Dwarka Sector 8 air monitoring centre recorded an air quality index of 496 and Nehru Nagar and JLN Stadium 492.

After a short-lived relief, the national capital’s air quality is once again so bad it qualifies as a national health emergency.

The noxious smog resulting from raging farm fires and unfavourable weather pushed pollution in Delhi-NCR towards the “emergency” zone on Wednesday, prompting authorities to order the closure of schools till November 15.

Air pollution contributes to the premature deaths of 2 million Indians every year.

In urban areas, most emissions come from vehicles and industry, whereas in rural areas, much of the pollution stems from biomass burning for cooking and keeping warm.