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Delhi air pollution plummets - 27th May 2020

The northern Indian city of Delhi usually jostles for the top spot in the ranks of the world’s most polluted cities. The sheer magnitude of the issue can be witnessed in these pictures taken last November.

By contrast, footage filmed during lockdown is evidence of the unprecedented decrease in pollution levels, as crystal skies reign during the Coronavirus pandemic.

A direct result of the government’s desperate nationwide lockdown measures to try and curb the deadly virus, the closure of industries and construction and halting of public transport has all but cleared Delhi’s congested roads.

Energy and climate policy expert, Siddarth Singh, lays the responsibility for poor air quality squarely at the feet of humans.

Siddarth Singh: We have created it. And when human activity stops naturally air quality improves. But the extent to which it has improved has come as a surprise to everyone.