KATHMANDU: In a disconcerting revelation, Kathmandu has secured the unenviable seventh spot on the list of the world’s most polluted cities.

The air quality in Nepal’s capital has hit alarming levels, with PM2.5 levels surging to 171 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3) at 9:30 am, according to data from IQ AirVisual.

What makes the situation even more concerning is that the current PM2.5 concentration in Kathmandu is a startling 19 times higher than the annual air quality guideline set by the World Health Organization (WHO).

Meanwhile, Bhaktapur, another city in the Kathmandu Valley, is grappling with “very unhealthy” air quality, recording PM2.5 levels of 292 micrograms per cubic meter (μg/m3), a whopping 48.5 times higher than the WHO guideline.

Delhi, the capital of India, maintains its notorious position as the most polluted city globally, closely trailed by Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh.