KATHMANDU, Nov 14 – Kathmandu has been ranked as the sixth most polluted city globally, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) level of 170, according to a recent report by IQAir, a Swiss-based air quality technology company.

In the latest rankings, Lahore, Pakistan, is listed as the most polluted city, with an alarming AQI of 755. Neighboring New Delhi, India, has also seen a significant increase in pollution levels, surpassing 400 AQI, placing it in a “severe” pollution category dangerous to public health. In some parts of the city, AQI readings have exceeded 450.

In addition to Lahore and New Delhi, Hanoi in Vietnam, Kolkata in India, and Dhaka in Bangladesh occupy the third, fourth, and fifth positions on the list, respectively. The rising pollution in these cities has been exacerbated by cooler weather, which traps pollutants closer to the ground, posing increased health risks.