Nepal Ranks 7th Most Polluted Country, Dhangadhi Tops List.

KATHMANDU – Nepal has been ranked as the seventh most polluted country in the world for 2024, according to a new report from IQAIR. Dhangadi has been identified as the most polluted area in Nepal, recording a dangerous Air Quality Index (AQI) of 186. Whereas, Nepalgunj in the Mid-Western region was named the cleanest city with an AQI of 55. The capital, Kathmandu, registered an unhealthy AQI of 105.

A primary reason of the nation’s pollution is of old vehicles, which emit a significant portion of the harmful pollutants. The number of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) in Nepal is 42.81 µg/m³. This level is 8.5 times higher than the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual safe recommendation.

“While cooking from firewoods are a major contributor, other factors are also increasing the problem. These include the widespread burning of garbage, wildfires,change in season, and pollution released from vehicles” says environment expert, Bhusan tuladhar. He also meintoined that electronic vehicles, Inductions, uses of cycle, collecting dry leaves for compost uses can make a change in pollution.

Despite the poor current ranking, the IQAIR data indicates a slight improvement from 2018, when Nepal’s PM2.5 level was recorded at 51.1 µg/m³. The report indicates the urgent need for proper actions to address the multiple sources of pollution affecting the country’s population of over 30 million.