Kathmandu Valley struggles with stubbornly high pollution levels

April 5, Kathmandu: Kathmandu Valley’s air quality remained troublingly poor on Saturday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) hitting 199 by 11:28 AM, signaling an unhealthy environment for residents.

Though this marks a decline from Thursday’s alarming 348, when the valley was briefly the world’s most-polluted city, the current level still hovers near the upper threshold of the “unhealthy” range. 

Nepal’s air quality standards categorize an AQI of 0-50 as good, while 151-200 is unhealthy for everyone, with heightened risks for sensitive groups. Environmental officials explained that despite winds providing some relief earlier, pollution levels had crept back up, fueled by vehicle emissions, construction dust, and the valley’s geography trapping contaminants.

They noted that awareness campaigns and agency coordination had been intensified, but stressed that the ongoing poor air quality demanded stronger, long-term solutions.