13 May, Kathmandu
Air Pollution Levels Declined in Kathmandu Valley
In the Kathmandu Valley, air pollution has decreased as a result of recent rainfall. With an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 162, the capital was the most polluted city in the world on May 2.
However, there has been a noticeable improvement since then; as per the latest data, the city currently holds the 50th position, boasting an AQI of 56.
The recent rainfall has facilitated the containment of wildfires, leading to an enhancement in air quality. Sundar Sharma, an expert on wildfires, underscored the role of favorable weather conditions in reducing air pollution.
On the Air Quality Index (AQI) scale, a range of 0–50 is categorized as good (indicated by a green signal), while 51–100 is deemed moderate (indicated by a yellow signal), signaling the need for caution.
Moreover, an AQI of 151-200 is deemed unhealthy for all (depicted in red), 201-300 is labeled very unhealthy (shown in purple), and an AQI of 301-400 is considered hazardous, with 401-500 being highly hazardous to health (illustrated in maroon), as per insights from disaster management expert Dr. Dharmaraj Uprety.
