Kathmandu, April 15 -- Air quality in most parts of the country, including the Kathmandu Valley, which had been at its worst until a month ago, had improved with the intensification of premonsoon activities-rainfall and windstorms.

However, with the pause in premonsoon conditions in recent days, combined with rising temperatures and forest fire incidents, air quality began to worsen again.

On Wednesday morning, air quality in most parts of the capital city had reached a very unhealthy level with PM2.5 levels either exceeding 200 or close to 200 micrograms per cubic metre.

What concerns experts much is that another round of rainfall and strong winds is needed to improve air quality, as little substantive action has been taken by the aut...