KATHMANDU, MAY 12

The Kathmandu Valley has experienced a decrease in air pollution due to recent rainfall. On May 2, the federal capital was ranked as the world's most polluted city with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 162.

However, there has been a significant improvement since then, with the city now ranking at the 50th position, with an AQI of 56, according to the latest data.

The containment of wildfires with the recent rainfall has played a crucial role in enhancing air quality. Sundar Sharma, a wildfire expert, noted that the favorable weather conditions have minimized air pollutants.

The AQI scale categorizes air quality, where an AQI of 0-50 is considered good (indicated by a green signal), 51-100 is moderate (marked by yellow), and it still advises caution. For sensitive groups, such as those with respiratory and cardiac issues, an AQI of 101-150 is unhealthy (highlighted by orange).

Moreover, an AQI of 151-200 is considered unhealthy for all (indicated by red), 201-300 is very unhealthy (highlighted by purple), while an AQI of 301-400 is hazardous and 401-500 is highly hazardous to health (denoted by maroon), according to disaster management expert Dr. Dharmaraj Uprety.