The Kathmandu Valley has seen a sharp rise in air pollution levels over the past few days apparently due to forest fires burning across the country.
According to meteorologists from the Meteorological Forecasting Division (MFD), the Kathmandu Valley has been choked by a thick layer of pollution for the past few days.
"Even now Valley is shrouded in a thick layer of pollution, limiting the visibility to 2,000 meters," Govinda Jha, a meteorologist at the Division, told Nepalkhabar on Wednesday morning, "While winds might offer a temporary respite in the afternoon, clearing some of the pollution, the Valley remains shrouded in the evening again."
According to him, the mist has blanketed the Valley for the last three to four days, significantly worsening air quality.
Meanwhile, Switzerland-based IQAir ranks the Kathmandu Valley as the world's most air-polluted city, currently.
Forest fires burning across Nepal for the past few days have choked the Kathmandu Valley in a thick layer of air pollution.
"The forest fires burning across the country have polluted the air quality in cities including Kathmandu," said Tara Datta Bhatta, deputy director general at the Department of Environment.
According to meteorologist Jha, if it rained, the fires would also be extinguished, and the dust particles spreading in the air would also fall onto the ground and help clean the air.
"But there is no chance of rain in the Kathmandu Valley for the next two to three days", he said.
