Name: Smog chokes New Delhi despite Indias push against pollution
Uploaded: 2025-12-18T00:52:23.216Z
Duration: 1 min 40 s
Description: Water sprinklers and a ban on diesel trucks are just two of the measures Indian authorities have put in place to improve air quality in the capital New Delhi — so far without much success.

Water sprinklers and a ban on diesel trucks are just two of the measures Indian authorities have put in place to improve air quality in the capital New Delhi — so far without much success.

New Delhi

New Delhi is experiencing heavy smog, with sunlight barely penetrating the thick layer of pollution. Residents report difficulty in outdoor activities and health concerns, while visibility remains low, affecting tourism and daily routines. 

Authorities have responded by deploying water sprinklers, banning older diesel trucks, pausing construction, and encouraging online classes and remote work. Despite these efforts, India's Supreme Court has labeled the measures ineffective, emphasizing the need for long-term solutions to address the city's air quality crisis.

Smog chokes New Delhi despite India's push against pollution

The sunlight struggles to break through the thick layer of smog blanketing New Delhi. Winter pollution is common in the Indian capital when dense air traps emissions from vehicles, construction sites and crop burning in neighbouring states. The situation's very bad. I want to go out running and cycling, but in this pollution it's become very difficult to do anything. It was a struggle to come out today. We'll only know later what effect this pollution has on the body. It's very difficult. We should do something about it. Visibility is very low. I can't see anything. We came to Delhi by car yesterday. We can't see anything because of the smog and pollution. We came to visit the India Gate, but we couldn't see it. We can hardly see it now, even after coming closer. The pollution is also affecting my health a lot. To improve air quality, water sprinklers have been deployed. And older diesel trucks have been banned from entering the city. Authorities have also paused construction work, but say day labourers on construction sites will be compensated. To make life easier for residents, local officials have asked schools to switch to online classes and for those who can to work from home. According to media reports, India's Supreme Court says the measures have been a total failure and that any meaningful reduction in pollution would require long-term planning.

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