Air pollution rises in Kathmandu Valley as dry season begins, forecast to remain unhealthy until Sunday

Air pollution levels have started rising in the Kathmandu Valley with the onset of the dry season, with air quality reaching unhealthy levels in several parts of the valley. According to IQAir, a Switzerland-based air quality monitoring organisation, pollution levels remained unhealthy in several areas on Friday morning, as they had on Thursday. The forecast suggests that air quality will remain at unhealthy levels until Sunday.

Data published by IQAir showed that the valley’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 111 on Friday morning. On Thursday, the AQI in Kathmandu’s Baneshowr area had reached 153. By 9.15am on Friday, it had fallen to 127 in the same area.

According to the Kathmandu Metropolitan City’s air quality monitoring dashboard, air quality was unhealthy in several areas, including Swayambhu, Balaju, Teku, Dallu, Thapathali, Kshetrapati, Jadibuti, Asan, Kamaladi, Shantinagar, Chabahil, Lainchaur and Handigaun. Air quality in the valley generally deteriorates during the dry season as rainfall becomes less frequent and dust and other pollutants accumulate in the atmosphere.