Why Wildfire is increasing in Nepal? Pollution in Kathmandu

#Nepal #wildfire #PrayforNepal #pollution #MeroVision Most of Central Nepal has seen an unusually dry winter with only 15% of the normal precipitation in January and February, and this has left the slopes tinder dry. This is also the time of year when farmers burn crop residue and brush to make fields ready to sow maize. The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Kathmandu Valley at 1500hrs was 632, which is nearly 20 times worse than what the World Health Organisation regards as being safe to breathe. Even in the most polluted afternoons at this time of year, the AQI in Kathmandu’s city center is below 150. Adding to the smoke from the wildfire that has also been sand dust blowing from the Arabian and Indian deserts for the past week, and this is compounded by cross-border industrial pollution as well as Kathmandu’s own vehicular emission. The wildfires are too extensive for Nepal’s meager fire-fighting capability, and besides the blaze is in steep and inaccessible slopes and being spread rapidly by up-valley afternoo