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‘Never Could Imagine This Was Possible’: The Himalayas Are Visible 125 Miles Away In Parts Of India For The First Time In 30 Years
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‘Never Could Imagine This Was Possible’: The Himalayas Are Visible 125 Miles Away In Parts Of India For The First Time In 30 Years

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People living in some parts of India are seeing the Himalaya mountains crystal clear for the first time in decades. This happened after the coronavirus quarantine reduced the amount of pollution in the country and helped the air clear up a bit.

Locals in the Jalandhar district in Punjab in Northern India, around 125 miles (just over 200 kilometers) from the mountains, are enjoying the majestic view. One of the people celebrating the unspoiled view is Indian cricket player Harbhajan Singh, with other Twitter users chiming in how pollution is a serious problem in India. Scroll down for Bored Panda’s interview with Harbhajan.

One person even said that this was the first time they could clearly see the Himalayas in nearly 30 years.

Cricket player Harbhajan Singh was overjoyed that the drop in pollution made it possible to see the Himalayas from his home

Image credits: harbhajan_singh

Harbhajan told Bored Panda that “It’s unbelievable to see the mountains from my home town.” He said that it’s beyond his imagination that a thing like this would happen.

He pointed out that the air quality near his home has “obviously improved a lot” and that’s the reason why people can see the mountains that they could “never” see before.

Harbhajan told us that he’s staying at home with the family and keeping busy. “I’m learning to cook which is something very new to me. Doing yoga with my wife and playing with my daughter. Watching movies, Netflix, Hotstar, Amazon prime.” He added that he’s praying for everyone’s wellbeing.

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This is the part of India where people have reported finally being able to see the Himalayas due to a drop in air pollution

Image credits: gull_1985

Image credits: Manu_Mehta_ind

One woman said that this is the first time in nearly 30 years that she could clearly see the Himalayas from her home

Image credits: KangManjit

Image credits: kash_education

India is currently under a 21-day lockdown in order to slow down and stop the spread of the coronavirus. With fewer people out on the streets and fewer businesses open, pollution levels in parts of the country have dropped and there is less smog.

“To save India, to save its every citizen, you, your family, every street, every neighborhood is being put under lockdown,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said after the nationwide lockdown was imposed on March 24. India currently has over 5k confirmed coronavirus cases and at least 149 people have died due to the illness.

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Others living in Northern India also shared photos of the mountain range taken from their homes

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India’s Central Pollution Control Board has confirmed that the coronavirus lockdown has lead to an improvement in air quality. While the India Today Intelligence Unity noticed a 33 percent improvement in air quality between March 16 and 27.

The country has a population of more than 1.3 billion and the World Health Organisation states that around 1.5 million of them died from air pollution in 2012. This is because India exceeds the safe limits of air quality established by the WHO by five times.

The Covid-19 quarantine has had an effect on pollution not just in India but also around the globe. Satellite images have shown a drop in air pollution in some European and US cities after people were told to stay home and non-essential businesses were told to close.

Here’s how some people reacted to the photos

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rituparna_nandan avatar
crazy_cat_notAlady
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This almost made me cry. The sky is bluer. breeze is cooler. so many birds have returned. i can see more than 6 different species right next my window in the garden (not counting the crows and sparrows). squirrels are running up and down the trees. it's beautiful. part of me is thankful people r indoors! (I'm from Kolkata, India as well)

shireen_2 avatar
NeverGoWoke
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

India is one of the most polluted countries in the world - one of the only good things coming out of this coronavirus pandemic is the amount of pollution that has been reduced and animals returning to their home territories.

lucianosixtoalmiron avatar
Roke Saavedra
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well said. "One of the only good things". Because sadly a lot of people will lose them jobs and poverty will grow with the bad conditions to kids that it means.. and deads... simplifying, you know

Load More Replies...
georgedigamma avatar
George Digamma
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

According to the old saying "sometimes what is bad for the bears, is good for the salmons".

gillandbella avatar
Gillbella
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find all the "humans are the virus" type comments funny/annoying. Unless we have some very smart cats on here (and I'm not saying there aren't any!) We are all part of the problem. How am I doing my part? I walk to work, my husband cycles, we recycle, buy products with no packaging, compost, grow our own veggies, don't use single use plastic etc. So you do your part, i'll do my part, and if we all do what we can, maybe we will get through this ok.

tonykt_ng avatar
Tony Ng
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the Nature last warning. It wont be that kind next time

snorincats avatar
Kathy Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Amazing the things that pollution can obscure. I lived in Los Angeles in the 1970s and remember traveling out of the area and up into the mountains—-and getting above the smog line. (Though having some “Before” pictures would’ve helped provide some contrast here.)

laurathai avatar
Laura Thai
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The planets healing from all the mess humans have done. Its just what it needed. Maybe humans will find a better way to live healthier and with better air quality. It would be also better if people spent some time cleaning up the beaches and garbage around to make the world a better place. Hopefully humans will learn from this event. . . though I have little hope for that

vaselake avatar
Vesna
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brain can not comprehend how huge Himalayas are....

flutterbystars avatar
Amanda Reicha
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live near the frontline range of the Rocky Mountains and if those pictures are from 200 miles away, then I am right with you.

Load More Replies...
cejokilal avatar
Malcontent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Make the most of it- in a few months they'll disappear again.

florenceehastings avatar
Florence Hastings
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the people of India will be making some monumental changes in the near future.

miss-dianne avatar
Bored Silly
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Once the virus is over and life goes back to normal people will go back to not caring. sad but true.

katie-trondsen avatar
KT Trondsen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We should be doing a lockdown every year world wide to prolong life on earth

pastor_silke avatar
Silke Force
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the people stayed home. They read books and made art They wrote poems and reflections And rested and played games and exercised They learned new ways of being And were still, and listened more deeply. Some planted and tended and harvested. Some meditated, some prayed, Some danced and some sang. Some discovered their light Others met their shadows. And the people began to See and hear To feel and think Differently. And the people healed. And in the absence of people Living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless and heartless ways, The earth began to heal. And when the danger passed And the people found each other again, Under bluer skies, amidst greener grasses They grieved their losses and made new choices and dreamed new images And created new ways to heal the earth more fully, As they had been healed

jannawhite avatar
Janna White
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it's wonderful, its like nature is fixing things man has messed up. it's very cool!

flaviaslag avatar
Flavia Slag
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the children with asthma breathed a little easier today.

mewmew34 avatar
mewmew34
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's just sad that once things are safe again and people can start going back to normal, it won't take long before people are no longer able to see the mountains again. Humans won't learn. We never do. Pollution will come back, animals will be chased away again, and we'll be back to destroying earth for our own personal gain.

mim-sou-5 avatar
Mim Sou
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So during all these years Bollywood filmmakers have been sending their crew and cast around the world to shoot the dancing scenes in front of picturesque mountain-landscapes when in fact... ? Yeah, typical human s**t.

bunchalotta avatar
AnnSmithJones
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's sad. Those are beautiful - I can't imagine living with that much pollution all the time! We are actually pretty fortunate in the US.

pragyafating_1 avatar
Jaded Queen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please somebody kill half of the population of the world, so I can finally be happy.

raymartin avatar
markymarky270270 avatar
Mark
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep I am waiting for the "you shouldn't be able to see them from that distance comments"

Load More Replies...
skwatandost avatar
Aski Markup
Community Member
3 years ago (edited)

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

What's really amazing us that the dumb Indian media are blaming Muslims for covid-19

rhea_bhtchrya avatar
OCD Mom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually no, they are not blaming the whole community, just the people in the congregation. There is a difference. A lot of Muslims are blaming them as well. They are mocking the Hindu congregations as well. They are blaming any large assembly.

Load More Replies...
rituparna_nandan avatar
crazy_cat_notAlady
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This almost made me cry. The sky is bluer. breeze is cooler. so many birds have returned. i can see more than 6 different species right next my window in the garden (not counting the crows and sparrows). squirrels are running up and down the trees. it's beautiful. part of me is thankful people r indoors! (I'm from Kolkata, India as well)

shireen_2 avatar
NeverGoWoke
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

India is one of the most polluted countries in the world - one of the only good things coming out of this coronavirus pandemic is the amount of pollution that has been reduced and animals returning to their home territories.

lucianosixtoalmiron avatar
Roke Saavedra
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Well said. "One of the only good things". Because sadly a lot of people will lose them jobs and poverty will grow with the bad conditions to kids that it means.. and deads... simplifying, you know

Load More Replies...
georgedigamma avatar
George Digamma
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

According to the old saying "sometimes what is bad for the bears, is good for the salmons".

gillandbella avatar
Gillbella
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I find all the "humans are the virus" type comments funny/annoying. Unless we have some very smart cats on here (and I'm not saying there aren't any!) We are all part of the problem. How am I doing my part? I walk to work, my husband cycles, we recycle, buy products with no packaging, compost, grow our own veggies, don't use single use plastic etc. So you do your part, i'll do my part, and if we all do what we can, maybe we will get through this ok.

tonykt_ng avatar
Tony Ng
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is the Nature last warning. It wont be that kind next time

snorincats avatar
Kathy Baylis
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Amazing the things that pollution can obscure. I lived in Los Angeles in the 1970s and remember traveling out of the area and up into the mountains—-and getting above the smog line. (Though having some “Before” pictures would’ve helped provide some contrast here.)

laurathai avatar
Laura Thai
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The planets healing from all the mess humans have done. Its just what it needed. Maybe humans will find a better way to live healthier and with better air quality. It would be also better if people spent some time cleaning up the beaches and garbage around to make the world a better place. Hopefully humans will learn from this event. . . though I have little hope for that

vaselake avatar
Vesna
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My brain can not comprehend how huge Himalayas are....

flutterbystars avatar
Amanda Reicha
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I live near the frontline range of the Rocky Mountains and if those pictures are from 200 miles away, then I am right with you.

Load More Replies...
cejokilal avatar
Malcontent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Make the most of it- in a few months they'll disappear again.

florenceehastings avatar
Florence Hastings
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I think the people of India will be making some monumental changes in the near future.

miss-dianne avatar
Bored Silly
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Once the virus is over and life goes back to normal people will go back to not caring. sad but true.

katie-trondsen avatar
KT Trondsen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We should be doing a lockdown every year world wide to prolong life on earth

pastor_silke avatar
Silke Force
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the people stayed home. They read books and made art They wrote poems and reflections And rested and played games and exercised They learned new ways of being And were still, and listened more deeply. Some planted and tended and harvested. Some meditated, some prayed, Some danced and some sang. Some discovered their light Others met their shadows. And the people began to See and hear To feel and think Differently. And the people healed. And in the absence of people Living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless and heartless ways, The earth began to heal. And when the danger passed And the people found each other again, Under bluer skies, amidst greener grasses They grieved their losses and made new choices and dreamed new images And created new ways to heal the earth more fully, As they had been healed

jannawhite avatar
Janna White
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it's wonderful, its like nature is fixing things man has messed up. it's very cool!

flaviaslag avatar
Flavia Slag
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the children with asthma breathed a little easier today.

mewmew34 avatar
mewmew34
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's just sad that once things are safe again and people can start going back to normal, it won't take long before people are no longer able to see the mountains again. Humans won't learn. We never do. Pollution will come back, animals will be chased away again, and we'll be back to destroying earth for our own personal gain.

mim-sou-5 avatar
Mim Sou
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

So during all these years Bollywood filmmakers have been sending their crew and cast around the world to shoot the dancing scenes in front of picturesque mountain-landscapes when in fact... ? Yeah, typical human s**t.

bunchalotta avatar
AnnSmithJones
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's sad. Those are beautiful - I can't imagine living with that much pollution all the time! We are actually pretty fortunate in the US.

pragyafating_1 avatar
Jaded Queen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Please somebody kill half of the population of the world, so I can finally be happy.

raymartin avatar
markymarky270270 avatar
Mark
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Yep I am waiting for the "you shouldn't be able to see them from that distance comments"

Load More Replies...
skwatandost avatar
Aski Markup
Community Member
3 years ago (edited)

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

What's really amazing us that the dumb Indian media are blaming Muslims for covid-19

rhea_bhtchrya avatar
OCD Mom
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Actually no, they are not blaming the whole community, just the people in the congregation. There is a difference. A lot of Muslims are blaming them as well. They are mocking the Hindu congregations as well. They are blaming any large assembly.

Load More Replies...
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