Choking Capital: Delhi’s Toxic Smog Crisis Grounds Flights and Strains Health Systems

 

                            People walk in a smog-covered morning in New Delhi, India, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025.

Dense toxic smog has engulfed New Delhi, reducing visibility, halting travel, and plunging the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) to an alarming 471, far above the hazardous threshold of 300. The blanket of pollution has led to over 40 flight cancellations and dozens of delays, while more than 50 trains were held up for hours, leaving thousands of commuters stranded.

Authorities have imposed emergency pollution-control measures, including a ban on older diesel vehicles, suspension of construction activities, and hybrid schooling for children. Courts have even advised virtual hearings to minimize exposure.

Hospitals across the capital are reporting a surge in patients suffering from breathing difficulties, eye irritation, and aggravated asthma conditions. Physicians warn that the city has effectively turned into a “gas chamber,” urging residents to avoid outdoor activities.

Experts attribute the crisis to a combination of falling temperatures, stagnant wind patterns, and vehicular and industrial emissions, which trap pollutants close to the ground. The smog is a recurring winter phenomenon in Delhi, but this year’s spike has been particularly severe, raising renewed calls for long-term solutions to the capital’s chronic air pollution problem.

As the toxic haze lingers, the city remains on high alert, with millions forced to adapt to life under hazardous skies.

Key Takeaways:

• AQI in Delhi reached 471 (hazardous)
• Flights and trains disrupted, stranding travelers
• Emergency measures: diesel vehicle ban, halted construction, hybrid schooling
• Health crisis: hospitals overwhelmed with respiratory cases
• Experts blame weather patterns + emissions for worsening smog