Hardship begins for residents of the Kathmandu Valley with the onset of winter. The cold forces pollution to settle close to the ground and its impact becomes increasingly visible. In the summer months, regular rainfall prevents pollutants from lingering in the atmosphere, washing them away. Clean air makes breathing easier and allows people to step outside, exercise, and carry out daily activities comfortably. But once winter sets in, outdoor conditions become harsh—and even indoors, the effects of pollution are hard to escape. Pollution in the federal capital is once again taking a toll on the elderly, children, and those with vulnerable health conditions. Hospitals are reporting a rise in respiratory cases. From the Valley, one should be able to see the surrounding hills and Himalayan ranges, yet a thick veil of pollution makes them barely visible. This haze signals the high concentration of dust particles and vehicle emissions suspended in the air. Travellers flying in and out of the Valley can clearly see that Kathmandu is shrouded in smog.
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Experts say Kathmandu’s bowl-shaped geography traps polluted air during the dry months. When the afternoon sun warms the ground, pollutants can rise and disperse with enough wind. But when sunshine is weak and cold intensifies, viral infections become more common and dangerous bacterial infections also increase. As a result, respiratory illnesses surge—a trend clearly reflected in Valley hospitals. Winter, typically beginning in late November after the festival season, consistently brings this cycle of worsening air quality. During the monsoon, the Valley’s air quality generally meets World Health Organization standards. Continuous rainfall would make pollution in Kathmandu far less worrisome. In recent years, the use of electric vehicles has increased and the quality of petroleum-run vehicles has improved, reinforced by mandatory Euro-standard imports. Some construction projects have progressed compared to the past. Yet pollution continues to rise because the atmosphere does not get cleaned regularly.
With no natural rainfall to rely on, other measures are essential. Kathmandu Valley needs far more trees and green spaces. Pollutant sources must be identified and strictly controlled. Pollution today is not caused only by domestic factors alone; global activities also play a role. Countries with lower carbon emissions must contribute, and because this is a multipronged problem, global cooperation is equally necessary. Within Nepal, the government must take decisive action to curb pollution. The Valley’s pollution is not accidental. Strict standards must regulate development and construction activities to ensure they do not worsen the situation. Several factors are driving pollution: ageing vehicles that emit heavy pollutants, constant construction generating dust, brick kilns, industrial emissions, and the burning of waste. Every year, pollution is estimated to cause between 26,000 and 41,300 deaths in Nepal. It has become a major cause of mortality and disability, reducing the average Nepali life expectancy by around 3.4 years. Numerous studies confirm that pollution contributes to heart and lung diseases, lung cancer and even diabetes. In this context, policymaking must prioritise protecting the population from pollution. Nothing is more important than public health. Kathmandu must become a place people choose to live not out of necessity, but out of desire.
