New Delhi gasps as pollution is 16 times above safe limits

Government plans to begin cloud-seeding to clear the air

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India's capital New Delhi was shrouded in a thick, toxic haze yesterday as air pollution levels soared to more than 16 times the World Health Organisation's recommended daily maximum.

New Delhi and its sprawling metropolitan region — home to more than 30 million people — are regularly ranked among the world's most polluted capitals, with acrid smog blanketing the skyline each winter.

Cooler air traps pollutants close to the ground, creating a deadly mix of emissions from crop burning, factories and heavy traffic.

Diwali adds to pollution