KATHMANDU: Air quality in the Kathmandu Valley has shown notable improvement after rainfall, following a sharp spike in pollution levels last week.
According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), pollution levels had surged to 247, placing the valley in the “very unhealthy” category and raising serious health concerns among experts.
As of today, the AQI has dropped to 79, which falls under the “moderate” category, indicating a gradual recovery in air quality.
Data also show that Kathmandu, which was ranked the world’s most polluted city last week, has now improved to 26th position in global rankings.
AQI standards classify air quality as “good” (0–50), “moderate” (51–100), “unhealthy” (101–150), “unhealthy for all” (151–200), “very unhealthy” (201–300), and “hazardous” (above 300).
Director General of the Department of Environment, Gyan Raj Subedi, said recent rainfall and strong winds have helped reduce pollution levels.
“Prolonged dry conditions allow dust and smoke to accumulate in the atmosphere, while forest fires add to the pollution, trapping smoke in the valley,” he said. “Polluted air entering from neighboring India also impacts Kathmandu’s air quality.”
He stressed the need for authorities to implement sustainable and environment-friendly development measures to effectively control pollution in the long term.
Comment