NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Residents in India's northern states woke up to another day of poor air quality on Tuesday, as a layer of dense fog shrouded most of the region and pollution in the capital Delhi remained severe.

Despite the recurrence of extreme pollution episodes and their very high health costs, the authorities are not taking any structural measures.

Over 75,000 people in Pakistan's Punjab province sought medical assistance on Saturday due to respiratory issues caused by toxic smog and air pollution,

Residents in India's northern states woke up to another day of poor air quality on Tuesday, as a layer of dense fog shrouded most of the region, and pollution in the capital Delhi remained severe. India battles air pollution every winter as cold,

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.

Environment Minister Gopal Rai said that the AAP government is monitoring the situation and will quickly decide on all possible preventive measures in the wake of toxic air pollut