Double Whammy Of Air Pollution, Heat

The Kathmandu Valley has recently been shrouded in a gloomy atmosphere, with air pollution reaching its worst level. At the same time last year, wildfires were raging across forests in Nepal, and their impact was being felt most severely in the Kathmandu Valley. On March 31, 2025, the Valley was ranked the most polluted city in the world. On that day, PM2.5 levels soared to 365 micrograms per cubic meter — classified as hazardous. PM stands for particulate matter, also known as particle pollution. It refers to a mixture of solid particles and liquid droplets in the air.