KATHMANDU, April 27: After days of choking haze and mounting health concerns, residents of Kathmandu Valley are finally getting a measure of relief as air quality begins to improve, thanks largely to recent rainfall.
Just last week, the Valley’s skies had turned visibly grey as dry conditions and widespread forest fires pushed pollution levels sharply upward. The Air Quality Index (AQI), a key measure of air pollution, surged from a relatively moderate 92 on Tuesday to a worrying 247 by Thursday—placing Kathmandu in the “very unhealthy” category and prompting experts to raise alarms about potential health risks.
Now, a shift in weather patterns appears to be easing the crisis. With intermittent rain over the past few days, the AQI has dropped to 141 as of Monday. While still in the “unhealthy” range, the improvement signals a positive trend.
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Experts say rainfall acts as a natural cleanser for the atmosphere. Gyanraj Subedi, Director General of the Department of Environment, explained that prolonged dry spells allow dust and smoke to accumulate, while forest fires further worsen air quality. “When it rains, these particles are washed out of the air, reducing pollution levels,” he said, adding that transboundary pollution from neighbouring India also contributes to Kathmandu’s air quality challenges.
Meteorologists are cautiously optimistic. Binu Maharjan from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology noted that more rain is likely from Wednesday onwards, which could further suppress dust and airborne pollutants.
Despite the temporary relief, experts warn that Kathmandu’s air pollution problem is far from over. They stress the need for sustained, environmentally responsible policies and better urban planning to address the structural causes of pollution—before the next dry spell sends AQI levels soaring again.
With inputs from RSS
