The Himalayas can be seen from India for the first time in "decades," as confinement reduces pollution.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in a new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in a new window)
• Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in a new window)
• Click to email a friend (Opens in a new window)

This is how India tries to contain the new coronavirus 3:12

(CNN) - People in the state of Punjab in northern India have reacted with amazement to be able to observe the Himalayas, which is now visible more than 160 kilometers away due to reduced pollution in the air due to the confinement of the country due to the coronavirus.

Citizens in and around the city of Jalandhar have posted images of the panorama online from their homes, and some say they have not seen the Himalayan peaks in decades.

• LOOK: The world's largest confinement by coronavirus dramatically impacts pollution in India

“For the first time in almost 30 years I was able to see the Himalayas clearly, due to the confinement of India that is eliminating air pollution. Simply incredible, ”wrote Manjit Kang.

What nature really is and how we screwed it up.

This is Dhauladhar mountain range of Himachal, visible after 30 yrs, from Jalandhar (Punjab) after pollution drops to its lowest level. This is approx. 200 km away straight. # Lockdown21 #MotherNature #Global healing. pic.twitter.com/cvZqbWd6MR

- Soul of a Warrior (@Deewalia) April 3, 2020

The phenomenon is made possible by a drastic improvement in air quality in recent weeks, after industries closed, cars stopped roaming the roads, and airlines canceled flights in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

Delhi had a reduction of up to 44% in PM10 air pollution levels on the first day of its restrictions, as recorded by the Central Pollution Control Board of India. The PM10 standard measures airborne particles 10 microns or less in diameter.

The report noted that in total 85 cities in India had less air pollution in the first week of national confinement.

Meanwhile, air quality in Jalandhar, which is more than 160 kilometers from the Himalayas, has been recorded as "good" in the country's national index for 16 of the 17 days since mobility restrictions were announced.

In contrast, during the same 17-day period last year, the city failed to record a single day of "good" air quality. And in the first 17 days of March this year, only three reached this category. Therefore, this period marked an involuntary but welcome breath of fresh air for the country's crowded and polluted cities. India is home to 21 of the world's 30 worst polluted urban areas, according to data compiled in the 2019 IQAir AirVisual World Air Quality Report. Six of them are in the top 10 places.

This was the view from our rooftop at home in Punjab India. For the first time in almost 30 years could clearly see the Himalayas due to India's lockdown clearing air pollution. Just amazing! 🙏🏽 pic.twitter.com/WmWZYQ68lC

- Manjit K Kang #StayHomeSaveLives (@KangManjit) April 3, 2020

The country has been under containment measures for more than two weeks, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi ordered "a total ban on leaving homes."

Only essential services have operated, including water, electricity, health, fire, grocery stores, and municipal services. All other stores, shops, factories, workshops, offices, markets, and places of worship have been closed, and buses and interstate subways have been suspended.

The country has reported nearly 6,000 cases of covid-19 and 178 deaths, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.

Although the famous mountain range is more visible than in recent times, it is also more deserted.

Many of its mountains have been closed to climbers for almost a month, and the Nepalese and Chinese sides of Mount Everest closed in early March.

confinement Contamination Air pollution covid-19 Himalaya