KATHMANDU, April 12: Rain accompanied by lightning has been observed not only in the Kathmandu Valley but also in the other hilly regions of Bagmati, Gandaki, and Koshi provinces. Meteorologists have said that it has led to a reduction in the pollution levels. However, there is still haze lingering all over the country. According to meteorologists, Nepal's air is still not clean.

According to a meteorologist at the Meteorological Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, pollution levels have begun to decline due to the light rain in the Kathmandu Valley on Thursday.

He stated, "The rainfall appears to have mitigated the presence of harmful atmospheric particles, resulting in improved visibility in the hills surrounding Kathmandu. However, ongoing wildfires in many areas continue to release smoke and dust into the air, contributing to the prevalent haze across the country. Although yesterday's rainfall may have reduced pollution levels to some extent, it did not entirely cleanse the air."

Gandaki, Bagmati, and Koshi provinces experienced rain along with storms on Thursday, which somewhat alleviated pollution levels.

Following the rain on Thursday evening, there was a moderate decrease in pollution levels. However, the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 174 on Friday morning, indicating that Nepal's air pollution remains at hazardous levels. As of Friday morning, Nepal ranks second in terms of air pollution, trailing behind India and China is in third rank.

In recent days, Kathmandu has been ranked among the most polluted cities in the world. According to Switzerland's IQAir, which measures global air quality levels, Nepal's Air Quality Index (AQI) has exceeded 200.

 
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