Air pollution increases in various districts including Valley

Air pollution has increased in various districts including the Kathmandu Valley, posing a risk to human health.

According to the Department of Environment, the pollution has increased due to rainfall below average level during pre-monsoon reason, wildfires and industrial activities, of late.

The air pollution has gone up in districts including Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Hetauda, Biratnagar, Simara, Janakpur and Dhangadhi for the last few days, said the Department.

“Dust particles have gathered in the air due to the lack of rainfall polluting the air further,” said Indu Bikram Joshi, the spokesperson of the Department.

Unbridled wildfires, industrial activities and heavy traffic system have given rise to the already worsened air pollution in the country, said Joshi.

According to Shanti Kandel, a meteorologist, the westerly wind is also responsible for the current air pollution.

There is no possibility of rainfall that would wash away the dust particles gathered in the air, added Kandel.

According to the government, if the Air Quality Index (AQI) is more than 300 in particulate matter (PM) it is harmful to the human health. The AQI measured in Simara Wednesday morning  was 305 PM.