Health Ministry urges all to adopt precautions in view of rising air pollution

KATHMANDU: The Ministry of Health and Population has urged all to adopt precautions in view of rising air pollution in the Kathmandu Valley.

Issuing a press release today, the Ministry requested everyone to take precautions as Nepal has been ranked in the list of most polluted countries in the world for the past few days as per the Air Quality Index.

An AQI level of 0-50 is considered ‘good’, from 51-100 ‘moderate’, from 101-150 ‘unhealthy for sensitive group’, from 151-200 to be ‘unhealthy’, from 201-300 ‘very unhealthy’ and above 301 to be ‘hazardous’.

According to the Ministry, AQI level in Kathmandu is now recorded at 348 and enlisted in the ‘hazardous’ category.

Ministry Spokesperson Dr Prakash Budhathoki suggested children, elderly persons, pregnant women and people with respiratory illness to adopt special precautions as they are considered more vulnerable to the impact of air pollution.

The Ministry also urged general people not to step out of house except for essential work, to wear a compulsory mask while travelling and not to visit most polluted areas.

The National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority has asked one and all to take initiatives from their areas to control air pollution and stay vigilant about health.

Air pollution level is increasing due to forest fire, road construction and industrial activities, added the Authority.

Similarly, industries, factories and bodies operating construction related activities have been urged to take necessary precautions in order to reduce air pollution.

The Authority through the government directed the bodies concerned to measure air pollution and adopt immediate measures to improve air quality.