Nepal's Department of Environment Issues Alert on Air Pollution
Air pollution levels are increasing in several areas of Nepal, including the Kathmandu Valley.Some locations in the Kathmandu Valley have an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 149-158, considered unhealthy for sensitive groups.
Main causes include smoke from industries, factories, and vehicles, forest fires, open waste burning, and dust from roads and construction sites.
During winters, temperature inversion can trap pollutants near the surface, leading to smog and particulate matter accumulation.Air pollution has serious implications for public health, especially for vulnerable groups like children, the elderly, pregnant women, and those with respiratory or heart conditions.
The Department of Environment has requested special precautions for vulnerable groups and urged citizens not to burn solid and plastic wastes.
