Air pollution in Kathmandu Valley declines with rain

Kathmandu: The air quality of Kathmandu Valley has improved significantly following rainfall for the past few days.

According to the latest Air Quality Index (AQI) data, the air quality index of the Valley has dropped to 47 as of 11:00 am today, which falls in the good or healthy category. Kathmandu, which was ranked first in the list of the most polluted cities in the world a few weeks ago, has now improved and dropped to 66th position.

On April 23, the air quality index of the Valley had reached 247, which falls in the ‘very unhealthy’ category, posing a serious risk to the health of the general public.

According to the Director General of the Department of Environment, Gyan Raj Subedi, dust, smoke and pollution from fires accumulate in the atmosphere when there is no rain for a long time.

“During the dry season, forest fires increase, and the smoke from them gets trapped in the valley, so pollution is high,” he said. “Polluted air coming from neighbouring India also affects Kathmandu’s air quality.”

He said that air quality would improve as dust and smoke would be washed away with the rain, and the air flow would increase.

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