KATHMANDU: Air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley has increased as the region experiences cloudy skies and a lack of adequate rainfall.
Meteorologist Binu Maharjan explained that the absence of rainfall is mainly due to the influence of local winds and the western low-pressure system, preventing the expected precipitation that could help clear the polluted air.
“While there has been snowfall and light rain in some parts of the country, there hasn’t been sufficient rainfall to alleviate the pollution. The weather is likely to remain the same for the next three days,” Maharjan said.
As of the latest report, Kathmandu has ranked as the fifth most polluted city globally, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) standing at 163. Hanoi, Vietnam leads with an AQI of 210, followed by Beijing, China (184), Dhaka, Bangladesh (175), and New Delhi, India (170).
The Department of Environment has issued a warning that air pollution could continue to rise through the month of May-June, due to various sources including emissions from industries, factories, motorcycles, construction sites, waste burning, and dust from ongoing construction activities.
Children, the elderly, individuals with respiratory conditions such as asthma, those with heart diseases, and expectant mothers are particularly vulnerable to the harmful effects of poor air quality.
Disaster Management Expert Dr. Dharmaraj Upreti explained the AQI scale, noting that an AQI of 0-50 is considered good for health (green), while 51-100 (yellow) calls for alertness. An AQI of 101-150 (orange) is unhealthy for sensitive groups, and anything above 150 indicates unhealthy levels for the general population.
When the AQI reaches 201-300, it is considered very unhealthy, and anything exceeding 300 is hazardous, putting everyone at risk.
The Air Quality Management Action Plan, 2020 for the Kathmandu Valley classifies an AQI above 300 as a disaster, indicating an urgent need for action to improve the air quality and protect public health.
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