The Himalayas have become visible from parts of India for the first time in 30 years, with residents putting the visibility down to the clean air that has come as a result of the country’s coronavirus lockdown.

As the pollution levels have reduced across the country, locals in the Jalandhar district in Punjab – nearly 125 miles away from the Himalayas – have been impressed by the snow-capped mountains.

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh tweeted to show what he described as the ‘clear indication of the impact the pollution has done by us to Mother Earth’ with one person replying: “We have seen it too from Gurdaspur… First time in my life I have seen such a beautiful view of the snow mountains.”

Another added: “This is what we’re missing due to pollution. I could barely see stars in average Delhi sky but it is very clear nowadays.”

Last month, the European Space Agency released footage showing the decrease of air pollution over China as the country went into lockdown – along with a rise in pollution as the quarantine measures started to ease.

The animation, based on data from the Copernicus Sentinel-5P satellite, shows nitrogen dioxide emissions, which are produced by the burning of fossil fuels over China, between 20 December and 16 March.

The European Space Agency reported: “The drop in concentrations in late January is visible, coinciding with the nationwide quarantine and from the beginning of March, the nitrogen dioxide levels have begun to increase.”

Claus Zehner, the ESA mission manager, said nitrogen dioxide dropped by around 40 percent during the lockdown.

The agency continued: “By combining satellite observations with detailed computer models of the atmosphere, their studies indicated a reduction of around 20-30 percent in surface particulate matter over large parts of China.”