India's lockdown carries a silver lining: bluer skies

New Delhi's air pollution abates as factories lie idle

20200402N New Delhi skies

India's nationwide lockdown has idled factories and kept cars off the road, leading to consecutive days of clearer skies in New Delhi with far less smog. © AP

MOYURU BABA, Nikkei staff writer

NEW DELHI -- The first week of India's unprecedented nationwide lockdown has dramatically improved the air quality here in the capital, part of the Delhi region that is deemed the most polluted city on the planet.

The 21-day lockdown, ordered by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, went into effect March 25. The order forced factories to go idle, kept cars off the road and suspended most public transportation.

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