On Wednesday, few doctors and residents had urged New Delhi authorities to shut schools and cancel outdoor sporting events in the capital as air pollution remained at the most severe level on the second day of running.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) air warning guidance, farm fires raging in neighboring states have caused clouds of smoke floating over the city and trapped in a toxic smog, posing a health risk to its 20 million residents.

The CPCB air quality index has exceeded 400 and is classified as “severe” on the scale, which means it can seriously affect those with existing respiratory illnesses, and also to those who are healthy. Pollution readings in some places had also peaked at 500, the most severe level on the government index.

Desh Deepak, a chest physician at the city’s Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital said that it is a public health emergency. Nowadays, lungs are far darker compared to 20 years ago. Few citizens’ groups and doctors took to twitter to call for schools to be temporarily closed till the air quality improves.

Meanwhile,on Sunday, former India cricket captain Bishan Singh Bedi, led a chorus of warnings over Delhi hosting a limited-overs Twenty20 cricket match between India and Bangladesh, citing “hazardous air quality”. But match organizers at the Delhi & District Cricket Association announced the sale of tickets on Wednesday in a sign they were going ahead.

Delhi’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said that hopefully the pollution will not come in the way of cricket. Some residents also called for the cancellation of a 6km run which was planned for Thursday to mark the anniversary of the birth of former home minister Sardar Patel, honored by ruling Hindu nationalists. Brikesh, a Twitter user posted “You will be putting thousands of citizens in harm’s way by making them run in this pollution.”

The CPCB index measures the concentration of tiny poisonous particulate matter that can be carried deep into the lungs leading to severe diseases including cancer and cardiac problems.

Prashant Gargava, a top official at the CPCB told Reuters that they are in a severe situation because of no winds. The city government has ordered the stoppage of construction activities and coal-based power plants.

Also, from next week, Delhi will restrict the use of private vehicles on the capital’s roads under an “odd-even” scheme which will be based on vehicle number plates.