Lockdown effect: Kathmandu gets a glimpse of Mount Everest as pollution levels decrease

An incredible photo shows Mount Everest visible for the first time in decades from the Nepalese city of Kathmandu.

An incredible photo shows Mount Everest visible for the first time in decades from the Nepalese city of Kathmandu.

Last week, residents of Kathmandu, Nepal, woke up to the magnificent view of Mount Everest after decades after the COVID-19 induced lockdown forced pollution levels down across the world.

Last week, residents of Kathmandu, Nepal, woke up to the magnificent view of Mount Everest after decades after the COVID-19 induced lockdown forced pollution levels down across the world.

While the sight would not have been possible just two months ago, shutting down of transportation and economic as well as industrial activities has greatly improved air quality and brought down air pollution levels.

While the sight would not have been possible just two months ago, shutting down of transportation and economic as well as industrial activities has greatly improved air quality and brought down air pollution levels.

The tallest peak in the world at a height of 29,029 ft, Mt Everest photo was taken by Abhushan Gautam from the Kathmandu Valley on May 10 and shared on Twitter by the news outlet Nepal Times. Gautam clicked the photo from Chobar, about 200 km away from Everest.

The tallest peak in the world at a height of 29,029 ft, Mt Everest photo was taken by Abhushan Gautam from the Kathmandu Valley on May 10 and shared on Twitter by the news outlet Nepal Times. Gautam clicked the photo from Chobar, about 200 km away from Everest.

The clear skies could not have come at a better time as May 29 marks the 67th anniversary of the first ascent of Mt. Everest when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Sherpa reached the highest point on Earth. The two were a part of a British expedition when they made the climb. 

The clear skies could not have come at a better time as May 29 marks the 67th anniversary of the first ascent of Mt. Everest when Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Sherpa reached the highest point on Earth. The two were a part of a British expedition when they made the climb. 

Others also shared images of the mountain range, visible clearly from Kathmandu, on social media. Everest is not the only peak that has become visible from plains in the near past. Earlier in April, the Dhauladhar mountain range, part of the Himalayan range in Himachal Pradesh, became visible from Jalandhar in Punjab.

Others also shared images of the mountain range, visible clearly from Kathmandu, on social media. Everest is not the only peak that has become visible from plains in the near past. Earlier in April, the Dhauladhar mountain range, part of the Himalayan range in Himachal Pradesh, became visible from Jalandhar in Punjab.