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A dramatic video comparing the air quality of Vienna and Delhi has taken social media by storm, reigniting outrage over the worsening pollution in India’s capital. Captured from an aeroplane window, the footage shows a striking difference – Vienna’s green and clear skyline quickly gives way to Delhi’s dense, yellowish smog as the plane descends. The video, shared on Instagram under the title “Difference in air quality captured from plane”, has amassed more than 4.3 million views. The user who posted it wrote, “Felt like travelling from 8K resolution to blurred 90’s camera quality due to high pollution during the winter months.” Shane, a foreign national visiting India, describes his personal observation of the worsening air quality as he travelled towards Delhi. He explains that while travelling by bus from Agra to Delhi, he noticed a visible increase in air pollution, the air became hazier and the smog thicker as he neared the capital. His comment, “I could even barely see the sun anymore,” vividly conveys how dense the pollution was, to the point that it obscured sunlight. How did social media react? The footage has triggered widespread concern and debate online. One user wrote, “From 4K resolution to a Mexican cowboy movie filter,” while another criticised defensive reactions to the pollution problem, saying, “Instead of acknowledging the issue, we Indians take it on ego – that won’t solve anything.” Others expressed shock, calling the situation “truly scary and alarming”, and urging citizens and authorities to take the matter seriously. Several users pointed out that Delhi continues to rank among the most polluted cities in the world, yet public awareness and political urgency remain low. Delhi’s pollution problem Contrary to the popular belief that pollution peaks only during winter, experts warn that Delhiites are exposed to hazardous air throughout the year. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), Delhi recorded an average PM2.5 concentration of 107 micrograms per cubic metre in October 2025 – more than three times higher than in September. The capital ranked sixth among India’s most polluted cities during the month. The Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report underscores the severe health crisis linked to Delhi’s poor air quality. In 2023, air pollution accounted for nearly 15 per cent of all deaths in the city, making it the single largest cause of mortality. The number of pollution-related deaths rose from 15,786 in 2018 to 17,188 in 2023, despite the introduction of several clean air measures. As Delhi enters another smog-filled winter, the viral video serves as a stark reminder that the city’s battle for clean air is far from over and that complacency could come at a devastating human cost.
