Kathmandu. KATHMANDU: The air quality in the Kathmandu Valley, which had started increasing rapidly in the last week, is gradually improving. The pollution caused by dry weather and forest fires has started decreasing gradually with the onset of rainfall in recent days.

According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), the air quality index (AQI) rose to 247 on Thursday from around 92 on Tuesday. Experts have expressed concern that the level falls in the “very unhealthy” category, which could have serious implications for public health. At present, the pollution AQI has come down to 141, which falls in the ‘unhealthy’ category.

An AQI between 0 and 50 is considered “good”, 51 and 100 “moderate”, 101 and 150 “unhealthy”, 151 and 200 “unhealthy”, 201 and 300 “very unhealthy”, and 300 “very dangerous”.

Director General of the Department of Environment, Gyan Raj Subedi, said the rainfall would play a significant role in controlling air pollution. “Accumulation of dust and smoke in the atmosphere due to lack of rainfall for a long time, increase in forest bushfires and the accumulation of smoke in the Kathmandu Valley, which leads to high pollution,” he said, adding that the polluted air coming from India also affects the air quality of Kathmandu. ”

He also stressed the need for the bodies concerned to effectively implement sustainable and environment-friendly development measures to control pollution. Meteorologist Binu Maharjan of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology said there is a good possibility of rain from Wednesday. This is expected to help in further reducing pollution by controlling dust and particulate matter in the air.