Kathmandu ranked as the most polluted city in the world on Tuesday morning, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 262 recorded at 7 am, according to IQAir. The city’s PM 2.5 level was 37.5 times higher than the World Health Organization's recommended limit, placing it in the “very unhealthy” category.

Experts attribute the spike in pollution to forest fires, vehicle emissions, and open burning of waste and agricultural residue. At a discussion hosted by the Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ), stakeholders stressed the need for urgent and coordinated action. The Department of Environment stated that over 50% of vehicles tested fail pollution standards.

After Kathmandu, the top ten most polluted cities included New Delhi, Hanoi, Lahore, Ho Chi Minh City, Wuhan, Jakarta, Yangon, Chengdu, and Phnom Penh.