As dense winter fog continues to blanket large parts of North India, severely reducing visibility and disrupting road travel, a viral video showing an unusual method of navigating through near-zero visibility has sparked widespread amusement and debate online.
The clip, shared on Instagram by user Instagram handle @davldeed, shows a group of men driving through an extremely foggy stretch with one person sitting on the car’s bonnet and guiding the driver using hand signals. The video has crossed 13 million views, drawing a mix of humour, concern and admiration for what many called “desi jugaad”.
Viral clip captures risky fog navigation
The video opens with a man perched on the bonnet of the car as the narrator explains that visibility is “zero”. With headlights barely cutting through the thick fog, the bonnet rider gestures left and right to help the driver navigate the road.
Text overlaid on the video jokingly reads, “ADAS Level 4. Only 1 in India Scorpio,” referring to an improvised advanced driver-assistance system on a Mahindra Scorpio SUV.
At one point, the voice in the background says, “No light can help, get a man to sit in the front,” turning a dangerous situation into a moment of dark humour. Faint headlights of passing vehicles are barely visible, underlining the severity of the fog.
Internet reacts with humour and memes
Netizens flooded the comments section with jokes and memes. One user quipped that from a distance it might look like “Mahadev giving ‘tathastu’”, while others compared the moment to viral “aura farming” clips popular online.
Some users also offered practical — though debatable — advice, such as using car cameras to improve visibility in fog, while many simply marvelled at the creativity displayed.
Authorities urge caution
While the video has entertained millions, road safety experts warn that such actions are extremely dangerous and illegal. Sitting on a car bonnet poses serious risk to life, especially in low-visibility conditions.
Police and transport officials across North India have repeatedly urged motorists to avoid unnecessary travel during dense fog, use fog lamps correctly, drive slowly, maintain safe distance and pull over if visibility drops to unsafe levels.
Fog continues to disrupt daily life
Winter fog has become a daily challenge across states such as Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh, affecting road, rail and air travel. While the viral video highlights the humour and ingenuity often associated with Indian youth, it also underscores the urgent need for responsible driving and strict adherence to safety norms.