Air pollution increasing again

Kathmandu: Air pollution has started to go up again due to lack of rain and growing incidents of forest fires. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), the AQI at Patan, Lalitpur is 176 and it is 163 at Kirtipur, 163 at Ratnapark in Kathmandu, 171 at Narayani, and 155 at Dhankuta.

AQI from 0 to 50 is considered normal and above 150 is hazardous. The AQI in Patan, Kirtipur, Ratnapark, Narayani and Dhankuta is above 150.

Health experts have advised wearing masks while going out of the house as air pollution likely to harm the health has increased. Meteorologist Govinda Jha said haze is seen in many places including in Kathmandu Valley since the morning due to the increased pollution.

According to him, air pollution is likely to further increase as there is no immediate likelihood of rainfall. It is said the air in Bhaktapur, Madhyapur Thimi and Birendranagar is at risk of pollution, hence hazardous to health. The AQI at these places is less than 150. Experts say that people suffering from chronic diseases, children, and elderly people are at risk. Vehicle emission is also another cause for the increasing level of air pollution.