Himalayas seen for first time in decades as pollution drops in India

By MiNDFOOD

Mount Everest (C), the world highest peak, and other peaks of the Himalayan range are seen from air during a mountain flight from Kathmandu April 24, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Chong (NEPAL - Tags: ENVIRONMENT TRAVEL) FOR BEST QUALITY IMAGE ALSO SEE: GM2E88716KV01 - GM1E79R1R8U01
Mount Everest (C), the world highest peak, and other peaks of the Himalayan range are seen from air during a mountain flight from Kathmandu April 24, 2010. REUTERS/Tim Chong (NEPAL - Tags: ENVIRONMENT TRAVEL) FOR BEST QUALITY IMAGE ALSO SEE: GM2E88716KV01 - GM1E79R1R8U01
People in northern India have been stunned to see the Himalayan mountains for the first time in decades.

For the first time in 30 years, residents in northern India can see the Himalayas, following a significant reduction of air pollution amid the coronavirus lockdown.

India has been in lockdown since March 22 and the country’s Central Pollution Board notes a “significant improvement in air quality,” reports SBS Hindi. 

 

The stunning snow-capped mountains, which lie 200 km away, were spotted by residents in the Jalandhar district of Punjab.

“We can see the snow-covered mountains clearly from our roofs. And not just that, stars are visible at night. I have never seen anything like this in recent times,” Mr Seechewal, an advocate for climate action, told SBS Hindi.

Since the lockdown, India has seen major improvements in air quality, with traffic off the roads and factories shut down.

At the beginning of the lockdown, Delhi reported a reduction of up to 44 percent in PM10 (article matter that signals air quality) compared to previous days.

India Today Data Intelligence Unit also reported a 33 percent improvement in air quality index on average in the country from March 16-27.

“I had never imagined I would experience such a clean world around me,” said Mr Seechewal. “The unimaginable has happened. It shows nothing is impossible. We must work together to keep it like that.”

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