Kathmandu: The sky over the Kathmandu Valley remains overcast, accompanied by rising air pollution levels due to insufficient rainfall, meteorologists report.
According to National News Agency Nepal, Meteorologist Binu Maharjan stated that the absence of adequate rainfall is a result of the influence of local winds combined with the western low-pressure system. Maharjan noted that although some regions have experienced snowfall and light rain, it has not been sufficient to alleviate the air pollution issue. The current weather pattern is expected to persist for an additional three days.
Until the time of the report, Kathmandu Valley’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 163, ranking it as the fifth most polluted city globally. Hanoi, Vietnam, topped the list with an AQI of 210, followed by Beijing, China, with 184, Dhaka, Bangladesh, with 175, and New Delhi, India, with 170.
The Department of Environment has indicated that the risk of heightened air pollution levels could continue until the month of Jeth (May-June). Major contributors to the pollution include emissions from industries, factories, motorcycles, construction sites, household activities, open waste burning, and dust from construction projects.
Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, individuals with respiratory and heart conditions, and pregnant women are at a heightened risk of adverse health effects due to the deteriorating air quality. Disaster Management Expert Dr. Dharmaraj Upreti explained the AQI scale, noting that a value of 0-50 is deemed safe, while levels of 51-100 require caution. An AQI of 101-150 poses health risks to sensitive groups, and levels from 151-200 are unhealthy for the general public. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered very unhealthy, and values exceeding 300 are deemed hazardous, affecting everyone.
The Air Quality Management Action Plan-2076 BS for the Kathmandu Valley categorizes an AQI above 300 as a disaster scenario, necessitating urgent action to protect public health.