A public health emergency is still in effect in New Delhi as heavy toxic smog hung over the Indian capital for the fourth day on Friday. The city banned the entry of commercial trucks as well as halted construction activity on Thursday in hopes that the haze would dissipate. 

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The smog is said to be caused by illegal crop burning in surrounding states, as well as vehicle exhaust and dust from construction sites, CNBC reported. The pollution forced school closures and had doctors in New Delhi urging the government to issue evacuation orders, according to NPR.

Residents are complaining of headaches, coughing and buring eyes, as doctors advised the elderly, children and individuals with respiratory problems to avoid strenuous activity and to stay indoors. If leaving home, locals are urged to wear pollution masks. Experts are saying that breathing the smog is comparable to smoking 44 cigarettes per day. 

(MORE: India, Pakistan Smog Chokes Entire Region)

Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal called New Delhi's current state a "gas chamber," and said the pollution is the worst he's seen in his 35 years in the city.

On Thursday, officials announced new plans to begin a partial ban on private car use next week. As the conditions are expected to worsen over the weekend, the government is finalizing plans to spray water over New Delhi from a height of over 300 feet to try to bring down pollution levels, CBC News reported.