Every winter, people across Noida and the wider Delhi-NCR region expect the air to worsen. But this year, the visuals have been especially unsettling. Videos circulating on social media show high-rise buildings fading into a grey blur, as if the city itself is slowly vanishing. To some viewers, the scenes seem unreal, almost cinematic, prompting doubts about whether camera angles or filters are exaggerating the situation.
The truth, however, is far more troubling. What the videos capture is not distortion, but a stark reflection of the air people are breathing every day.
What the AQI Numbers Actually Mean
The severity of the situation becomes clearer when viewed through the lens of the Air Quality Index, or AQI. An AQI below 100 is considered acceptable. Once it crosses 300, it enters the “severe” category, posing serious health risks to everyone, not just vulnerable groups.
In recent weeks, several parts of Delhi-NCR, including Noida, have recorded AQI levels consistently between 400 and 500. At these levels, the concentration of fine particulate matter, especially PM2.5, becomes dangerously high. These microscopic particles are small enough to bypass the body’s natural defenses and lodge deep inside the lungs, and even enter the bloodstream.
Why Visibility Has Dropped So Drastically
The dramatic loss of visibility seen in viral clips has a scientific explanation. Fine particles suspended in polluted air scatter light, creating a dense haze that resembles fog but is far more toxic. During winter mornings and evenings, moisture in the air combines with pollution, intensifying the smog and making it appear darker and thicker.
This is why skylines blur, distant buildings disappear, and familiar cityscapes feel eerily unfamiliar. What looks like fog is, in reality, a cloud of harmful pollutants.
The Truth About “AQI Crossing 1000”
Amid the panic, some claims have surfaced suggesting that Delhi’s AQI crossed 1000. While these figures sound alarming, it’s important to understand how air quality is officially measured. Government monitoring systems cap AQI readings at 500, as anything beyond that is already classified as extremely hazardous.
Claims of AQI touching four digits usually come from short-term spikes, localized sensors, or alternative calculations during peak pollution episodes. Whether the number is 450, 500, or momentarily higher, the takeaway remains unchanged: the air is unsafe to breathe.
Why This Happens Every Winter
The causes of Delhi-NCR’s winter smog are well known, yet stubbornly persistent. Cooler temperatures and low wind speeds trap pollutants close to the ground. Emissions from vehicles, dust from construction sites, industrial output, and smoke from crop residue burning in nearby states all converge into a toxic mix.
Instead of dispersing, these pollutants accumulate over days, forming the thick blanket of smog that returns year after year.
Daily Life Under a Grey Sky
The consequences are visible beyond viral videos. Schools have shifted younger students to online classes, construction activities have been curtailed, and health advisories urge residents to stay indoors as much as possible. Simple routines like commuting, exercising outdoors, or stepping out without a mask now carry health risks.
For many residents, winter has become a season of restricted movement and constant concern about long-term health.
More Than Just a Visual Shock
The scenes from Noida are not exaggerations or isolated moments. They are visual proof of a recurring environmental crisis that has become normalised. Until long-term, structural solutions address emissions, urban planning, and regional coordination, winter in Delhi-NCR will continue to bring not just cold air, but air that is increasingly unfit to breathe.