India Can Finally Breathe

The COVID silver lining for air quality in Indian cities

As COVID ravages economies around the world, India is no exception.

However, there is a silver lining in all of this. Due to the nationwide curfews, decrease in industrial activity, and an overall reduction in human outdoor traffic, Air Quality in India has improved significantly over the last 4–5 months.

As per the 2019 World Air Quality Report from IQAir, India is the 5th most polluted country, only behind Bangladesh, Pakistan, Mongolia, and Afghanistan.

It is also home to 21of the top 30 most polluted cities in the world, with New Delhi being the most polluted capital city of the world, narrowly beating Dhaka, Bangladesh.

Air pollution kills 1.25 million people in India every year and is the 3rd leading cause of death.

But since the lockdown, the northern part of India, home to the highest number of “most polluted” cities on Earth, has witnessed a sharp drop in pollution levels — ‘It’s positively alpine!’: Disbelief in big cities as air pollution falls

So much so, that the majestic Himalayas were visible from hundreds of kms away — Himalayas visible from India as nature ‘heals’ during coronavirus shutdown