Kathmandu Tops Air Pollution Index as World’s Most Polluted City

The air quality in the Kathmandu Valley has deteriorated significantly, reaching an alarming Air Quality Index (AQI) of 194 today. According to environmental health experts, this level of air pollution is considered unhealthy for the general population.

The AQI, a measure used to communicate how polluted the air currently is or how polluted it is forecast to become, places Kathmandu at the top of the list of cities with poor air quality, surpassing Pakistan’s 186 and New Delhi’s 173. Residents are advised to minimize outdoor activities and wear protective masks to reduce exposure to unhealthy air particles.