NEW DELHI, November 6 (Reuters/IANS): The Delhi government on Sunday put all construction projects on hold, shut down schools and advised residents of the Indian capital to stay indoors as part of an “emergency” plan to deal with dangerous levels of air pollution. New Delhi ranks among the world’s most polluted cities. In the past week, a thick layer of smog has enveloped the city, with people complaining of irritated eyes, throats and lungs. A combination of smoke from burning farm residue in surrounding states, fireworks for the Hindu festival of Diwali, dust from construction works and vehicle emissions has pushed up levels of the most dangerous particles, known as PM 2.5, to more than 15 times the safe limit. Hundreds of people, including children, on Sunday staged a protest in New Delhi over the worsening air quality, demanding immediate and effective steps from authorities. New Delhi’s chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal, who has called the city a “gas chamber”, said all construction and demolition would remain on hold for five days and schools would be shut for three days. He also banned the use of all diesel-powered electricity generators for the next 10 days. The local administration will start vacuum cleaning roads and sprinkling them with water, Kejriwal said. “We all need to cooperate and work together to find a solution,” he said. “The situation is such that we need to take some urgent measures.” Air quality is usually poorest in Delhi’s winter months of December and January. Authorities have responded with such measures as a ban on old trucks from entering the city and briefly trying a scheme that limited use of private vehicles to alternate days. Experts say those have done little to reduce pollution. Kejriwal said his government was contemplating another round of restrictions on the use of private cars. Cold weather, smog could lead to rise in heart, lung cases Meanwhile, cardiologists and pulmonologists have warned that prolonged exposure to the highly toxic air can cause cardiac arrest and lung complications. Noting that cardiovascular disease (CVD), over the past decade, has emerged as the single most important cause of death worldwide, a leading cardiologist in the national capital has recommended caution so that cardiac patients can face the rigours of cold comfortably. Environmental factors such as temperature and air pollution play an important role in the occurrence of CVDs in both sexes, particularly in advanced-age patients -- biological aspects are also known to contribute to the development of this disorder, says senior cardiologist Colonel (Dr) Anil Dhall, Director of Cardiovascular Sciences at Venkateshwar Hospital here. The risk of CVDs appears to be higher during the winter months, particularly among elderly people. People should be informed of these increased risks of cardiovascular disease during the cold season, and educated about the importance of regular physical activity and dressing warmly in winter, advises Dhall. People should also be motivated to maintain health dietary habits including a nutrient rich in vitamin D and low fat intake. According to Dhall, cold weather, among other factors, increases peripheral vasoconstriction which may lead to pulmonary oedema in patients with symptomatic congestive heart failure (CHF). Additionally, increased blood pressure, lack of vitamin D intake and low physical activity, and air pollution in winter have also been postulated as factors responsible for the higher number of cardiac cases.