Kathmandu, February 8 Air quality in Nepal's Kathmandu Valley deteriorated on Sunday, reaching an "unhealthy level" with an AQI of 175 recorded in all three districts.
The Nepal government's Environment Department said that Kathmandu ranked seventh among the most polluted cities in the world on Sunday. Cairo, the capital of Egypt, topped the list of the most polluted cities during this period, with an AQI of 273, it said.
Dry weather, the operation of factories and industries, vehicular smoke, and unregulated construction works have contributed to the worsening of air conditions in the Kathmandu Valley, according to Gyan Raj Subedi, Director General of the Department of Environment.
"There is a possibility of further deterioration in air pollution until rainfall occurs," he added.
Due to the bowl-shaped geography of the Kathmandu Valley, air pollution will not immediately decrease unless it rains or there is sufficient wind, said Kanchan Kumar Nayak, information officer at the Department of Environment.
"The situation will improve as soon as the summer season arrives in April," he added.
According to experts, air quality with an AQI of 0-50 is categorized as good, 51-100 is moderate, 101-150 is unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151-200 is unhealthy, 201-300 is very unhealthy, and above 301 is hazardous.
According to the Air Quality Management Procedure, 2076 for the Kathmandu Valley, the government has made provisions to consider a situation where AQI exceeds 300 as a disaster.
