A thick layer of toxic smog has blanketed India, rendering iconic sites such as the Taj Mahal in Agra and Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar invisible and causing numerous flight delays.

Axar.az reports that the fog is so thick that the Taj Mahal is not even visible from the adjacent gardens.

It is also noted that visibility at New Delhi International Airport was reduced to 300 meters, which caused 88% of departures and 54% of arrivals to be delayed.

According to the authorities, the smoke was caused by high levels of air pollution, high humidity, weak wind and low temperature. Local residents complain of poor health, children suffer from allergies, coughs, colds and asthma.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) in New Delhi remained at the critical level of 430, which is classified as a serious threat, for the second day in a row.