Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal, whose government has also asked its departments to prepare for the odd number-even number scheme to ration vehicles on Delhi's roads, has already likened the city to a "gas chamber".

A bench headed by Chief Justice T.S. Thakur listed the matter for hearing at 3.30pm after the Union environment ministry's Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority (EPCA) said it was "an extremely dangerous situation" that needed "drastic" action, both "short term and long term".

It said the current levels of pollution were "extremely toxic" and "hazardous" for human health.

Scientists say a combination of weather conditions has kept everyday emissions from vehicles, diesel generators, farm fires and other sources trapped in the air over the capital for the past week, prompting parallels with the Great Smog of London in 1952 that killed over 4,000 people.

The EPCA urged the apex court to treat the situation as a "health emergency" and wanted comprehensive steps to augment public transport in Delhi and connectivity with the National Capital Region. It also sought steps to promote the concept of "walk and cycle for last mile connectivity" and increased parking charges.

"This is the most important action that needs to be taken urgently as it is the only way that Delhi/NCR will be able to address air pollution and restrain the growth of private vehicles....

"It has to ensure that drastic and effective actions are taken to reduce pollution during the winter months," the authority said, adding the Delhi government must issue da-ily health advisories telling people to keep indoors children and those suffering from heart and respiratory ailments.

"We must recognise that children are most vulnerable as they have a poor defence mechanism and their ability to metabolise and detoxify environmental agents is different from adults," the EPCA said.

R.K. Kapoor, a veteran advocate, also moved a plea seeking drastic steps. This petition, too, will be taken up for hearing tomorrow.

In a status report tabled through counsel Aparajita Singh, the EPCA said the current level of pollution was "higher than what was recorded during the London smog" and certainly higher than what Delhi has "ever" seen.

"The levels of PM2.5... increased by 1.4 times on November 5, 2016, as compared to Diwali... a situation, which is both alarming and dangerous for human health," the EPCA said.

The 24-hour average concentrations of PM2.5 - tiny particulatematter less than 2.5 micrometres - ranged between 400 and 700 micrograms per cubic metre between yesterday and last Monday. The safe limit is 60 micrograms per cubic metre.

The report identified a combination of factors behind the high pollution levels, such as the large number of vehicles, unchecked construction, road dust and burning of garbage. The situation, it said, had been exacerbated by Diwali crackers, burning of paddy residue by farmers in Punjab and Haryana and near-still weather conditions without wind and the onset of winter.

"This severe smog... is a result of these factors and must be treated as a public health emergency," the report said.