Viral Flight Video Captures Delhi Lost in a Sea of 800+ AQI Smog

New Delhi, December 24, 2025: A disturbing perspective of the national capital’s pollution crisis was witnessed by millions this week through a viral aerial video. The footage, which was recorded from a passenger plane flying over Delhi on December 23, 2025, shows the city completely submerged under a thick, opaque blanket of grey smog. In the video, which was shared by Instagram user Anjali Sohal, the ground is observed to be entirely invisible, with the caption hauntingly noting, “Just in case it was getting hard to imagine what 800+ AQI looks like from above.”

The “Smell” of Toxicity: Residents React

The digital evidence has triggered an outpouring of shared distress from residents who have been living beneath the toxic cloud. It was noted in the comment section that the pollution has reached a point where it can be “smelled” and “tasted” even inside well-sealed homes. Descriptions of the air as a “metallic, sulfur-like stench” were frequently observed, with many comparing the experience to “smoking twenty cigarettes a day.” The psychological toll was further highlighted by users who remarked that the aerial view makes the crisis feel significantly more “unsettling and apocalyptic” than ground-level photos.

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Hazardous Levels and Flight Disruptions

While the official city-wide average was recorded in the ‘Severe’ (400+) category, several localized monitoring stations in areas like Rohini, Mundka, and Anand Vihar were observed hitting peaks near the 800-900 AQI mark during late-night and early-morning hours. This extreme atmospheric density has led to a total breakdown of regional logistics. Over 200 flights and dozens of trains were reported delayed or diverted this Wednesday morning due to near-zero visibility at the Indira Gandhi International Airport.

Administrative Response and GRAP Stage IV

In light of the deteriorating conditions, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) was observed implementing all measures under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). This high-level intervention has resulted in a ban on the entry of non-essential trucks into Delhi and a temporary halt on all public construction activities. It was further announced by the Delhi Environment Minister that “No PUC, No Fuel” policies would be strictly enforced at all petrol pumps to curb rising vehicular emissions.

A Growing Demand for Long-Term Solutions

The viral video has reignited a fierce debate regarding the effectiveness of annual “emergency” measures. It is being argued by environmental activists that the visible “gas chamber” seen from the airplane window is a result of years of systemic policy failure. As the year 2025 draws to a close, the image of Delhi disappearing into a toxic haze remains a stark reminder of the urgent need for a transition toward cleaner energy and stricter industrial controls across the North Indian plains.