Indian residents can now see the towering peaks of the Himalayas from Punjab for the first time in 30 years, after a massive drop in pollution caused by the country's coronavirus lockdown.

Key points: Residents in Punjab took to social media to share photos of the view

Residents in Punjab took to social media to share photos of the view Official reports showed air quality in 85 cities had improved significantly since the lockdown

Official reports showed air quality in 85 cities had improved significantly since the lockdown India has a population of around 1.3 billion people, with one of the world's most polluted cities

The lockdown, implemented on March 22, has resulted in a "significant improvement in air quality in the country", as revealed by data analysis from India's Central Pollution Control Board.

The report showed air quality in 85 cities had improved significantly as most vehicles remained off roads and non-essential businesses closed.

The report said:

"Data shows that on average, Indian cities had an AQI [Air Quality Index] of 115 between March 16 and 24."

"The air quality started showing improvements from the first day of the 21-day lockdown. The average AQI fell to 75 in the first three days of the lockdown."

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Dozens of residents from the Jalandhar district in Punjab took to social media to share crystal-clear views of the snow-capped mountains, thanking the improved air quality for the awe-inspiring snaps.

The mountain range is the world's highest with elevations of more than 8,000 metres, and includes the world's tallest peak, Mount Everest.

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Some residents claimed it was the first time they had seen the peaks.

According to the latest figures from India's health ministry, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country has passed the 4,000 mark with more than 100 people dead so far.

India has a population of around 1.3 billion people, with one of the world's most polluted cities, according to IQ Air pollution researchers.

Ghaziabad, an area close to New Delhi in northern Uttar Pradesh state, had been ranked as the world's most polluted, with an average PM 2.5 concentration measurement of 110.2 in 2019.

The microscopic particles, known as PM 2.5, are smaller than 2.5 micrometres in diameter, and are considered particularly harmful as they are small enough to enter deep into the lungs and cardiovascular system of a human.

New Delhi and the surrounding areas had some of the worst city air quality of 2019. ( Reuters: Adnan Abidi )

Worldwide pollution reducing

Air pollution over China also plummeted in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, according to NASA.

NASA and the European Space Agency's pollution monitoring satellites detected a significant decline in the amount of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) over China since the lockdown.

"There is evidence that the change is at least partly related to the economic slowdown following the outbreak of coronavirus," NASA said in a statement.

According to NASA, the reduction in NO2 was first apparent near Wuhan, the epicentre of the virus, where millions of people were quarantined.

Environmental researchers also noticed air pollution levels plummeted in the Asia Pacific with carbon emissions also expected to drop, according to the Australian National University.