Health emergency declared in Nepal as pollution rises

For the second day in a row, a thick layer of smog enveloped the Nepal capital Kathmandu. Visibility in the valley went down dramatically in the last two days with the Air Quality Index shown by the US Embassy in the capital remaining over 300 which means "Hazardous". As a sudden drop in mercury settled down atmospheric pollutants, the Department of Environment requested people not to come out without genuine reasons. The department also stated that the air quality in other major cities like Nepalgunj and Biratnagar will be deteriorating and people should be cautious. The PM 2.5 levels of more than 150mg/m3 are considered extremely dangerous for human health, and people are recommended to stay indoors. According to IQ Air, a Swiss air quality technology company, overall air quality index of the Valley today stood at 437mg/m3 - the worst in the world. In order to address the problem, the government earlier had introduced a provision that allows authorities concerned to declare an air pollution emergency whenever the air quality index goes over 300 (mg/m3). However, none of the concerned authorities has sent out a signal in this regard as the nation is reeling through the COVID-19 pandemic where pollution might worsen complexities among infected ones. AQI is a composite measurement of the concentration of particulate matter below 10 and 2.5 microns, carbon monoxide, sulfur and nitrogen dioxide, and ground ozone. Reeling above the mark of 300, Kathmandu is expected to get rid of smog only after heavy rainfall.