Lockdown Effect: Impossible View of Himalayas Captured by Photographers in India After 30 Years
(Photo : Twitter)
Photographers Rush to Capture This Impossible View of the Himalayas Not Seen Since WWII

The 21-day lockdown in India to fight the spread of coronavirus has brought the country to a halt, affecting its economy and putting people's livelihoods in jeopardy. But many Indians still find themselves in solace in an unlikely outcome.

It turns out, the lockdown is not that bad after all- at least for Mother Nature. With industrial work and automobiles are shut down, pollution across India have witnessed a drastic fall showing the marvel of the Himalayas mountaintops.

 A marvellous sight after 30 years

One of the most visible effects of lockdown is the reduction of pollution levels around the world. Last Friday, on April 3, residents of Jalandhar, Punjab have woken up to an unprecedented view of the snow-capped Himalayan range.

With the reduced air pollution and smog, the Himalayan mountaintops have become visible to the naked eye. As the people saw this, photographers rushed to their rooftops to capture the impossible moment.

Different social media sites were filled with some delightful images as more and more residents laid eyes on the entire Himalayan ranges. They claimed that this incredible sight last took place almost 30 years ago.

"A mesmerizing view of Dhauladhar Mountains range in Himachal Pradesh from my home in Kharar, Mohali, Punjab, due to improved air quality and decrease in pollution levels," said Rohit Wadhwa from Twitter.

Many cities in India have also recorded an improved air quality due to a decrease in pollution following the nationwide lockdown. Now, social media users cannot help but share the photos of a rare sight of Himalayas, a clear sign of having clear skies.

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Healed Mother Nature

India is not the only country who experienced the positive effects of lockdown on Mother Nature. In two previous reports by Science Times, it first reported the dramatic drop of air pollution in China as it is so stark that it is seen on space according to the U.S. and European satellites.

Same goes for Italy as they reported a 'notable drop' in air pollution between January to March shortly after the country has declared a nationwide lockdown, as reported by the European Space Agency.

In Europe, pictures of Venice canals, dolphins in Cagliari, and swans in Milan were all over the internet as many argued that these are the signs of nature healing itself when humans are not around.

The absence of humans does not mean that animals are dramatically rebounding. Instead, they are timidly pushing their boundaries, like the sika deers who showed up outside their normal habitat in one park of Nara, Japan.

In Oakland, California, wild turkeys also started showing up in the park, and orcas are venturing farther up in Vancouver's Burrell Inlet than they usually do.

Martine Fowlie, media manager for the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, said in an interview that the hushing of cities, towns, and countries might not only benefit the animals. Humans may emerge from their homes with better knowledge and understanding with their relationship with the natural world.

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