"sensitive groups."

#13435199

12 March 2026

Vehicles ply on the roads of Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 12, 2026, as polluted haze covers the valley, plummeting the Air Quality Index. The city's Air Quality Index ranges between 200 to 250 in the "very unhealthy" category, well above the threshold of 150 that is considered unhealthy and past the 200 mark that signals very unhealthy air. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, the most dangerous category of airborne pollutant due to its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs, is recorded at 129.9 micrograms per cubic meter, more than 25 times the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 5 ug/m3. Coarse particulate matter, PM10, stands at 100.3 ug/m3. Under Nepal's government-approved Air Quality Index scale, a reading of 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and anything above 300 hazardous. The Ministry of Health and Population urges all residents to take precautions. According to the ministry, prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and kidneys, and can contribute to conditions including asthma and cancer.

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#13435200

12 March 2026

Vehicles ply on the roads of Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 12, 2026, as polluted haze covers the valley, plummeting the Air Quality Index. The city's Air Quality Index ranges between 200 to 250 in the "very unhealthy" category, well above the threshold of 150 that is considered unhealthy and past the 200 mark that signals very unhealthy air. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, the most dangerous category of airborne pollutant due to its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs, is recorded at 129.9 micrograms per cubic meter, more than 25 times the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 5 ug/m3. Coarse particulate matter, PM10, stands at 100.3 ug/m3. Under Nepal's government-approved Air Quality Index scale, a reading of 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and anything above 300 hazardous. The Ministry of Health and Population urges all residents to take precautions. According to the ministry, prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and kidneys, and can contribute to conditions including asthma and cancer.

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#13435201

12 March 2026

Vehicles ply on the roads of Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 12, 2026, as a polluted haze covers the valley, plummeting the Air Quality Index. The city's Air Quality Index ranges between 200 to 250 in the "very unhealthy" category, well above the threshold of 150 that is considered unhealthy and past the 200 mark that signals very unhealthy air. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, the most dangerous category of airborne pollutant due to its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs, is recorded at 129.9 micrograms per cubic meter, more than 25 times the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 5 ug/m3. Coarse particulate matter, PM10, stands at 100.3 ug/m3. Under Nepal's government-approved Air Quality Index scale, a reading of 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and anything above 300 hazardous. The Ministry of Health and Population urges all residents to take precautions. According to the ministry, prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and kidneys, and can contribute to conditions including asthma and cancer.

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#13435204

12 March 2026

A thick layer of polluted haze covers Kathmandu Valley as seen from a hill station in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 12, 2026. The city's Air Quality Index ranges between 200 to 250 in the "very unhealthy" category, well above the threshold of 150 that is considered unhealthy and past the 200 mark that signals very unhealthy air. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, the most dangerous category of airborne pollutant due to its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs, records at 129.9 micrograms per cubic meter, more than 25 times the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 5 ug/m3. Coarse particulate matter, PM10, stands at 100.3 ug/m3. Under Nepal's government-approved Air Quality Index scale, a reading of 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and anything above 300 hazardous. The Ministry of Health and Population urges all residents to take precautions. According to the ministry, prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and kidneys, and can contribute to conditions including asthma and cancer.

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#13435207

12 March 2026

Vehicles ply on the roads of Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 12, 2026, as polluted haze covers the valley, plummeting the Air Quality Index. The city's Air Quality Index ranges between 200 to 250 in the "very unhealthy" category, well above the threshold of 150 that is considered unhealthy and past the 200 mark that signals very unhealthy air. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, the most dangerous category of airborne pollutant due to its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs, is recorded at 129.9 micrograms per cubic meter, more than 25 times the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 5 ug/m3. Coarse particulate matter, PM10, stands at 100.3 ug/m3. Under Nepal's government-approved Air Quality Index scale, a reading of 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and anything above 300 hazardous. The Ministry of Health and Population urges all residents to take precautions. According to the ministry, prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and kidneys, and can contribute to conditions including asthma and cancer.

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#13435202

12 March 2026

People overlook the polluted haze covering Kathmandu Valley from a hill station in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 12, 2026, as the Air Quality Index of the bowl-shaped valley continues to dip. The city's Air Quality Index ranges between 200 to 250 in the "very unhealthy" category, well above the threshold of 150 that is considered unhealthy and past the 200 mark that signals very unhealthy air. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, the most dangerous category of airborne pollutant due to its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs, is recorded at 129.9 micrograms per cubic meter, more than 25 times the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 5 ug/m3. Coarse particulate matter, PM10, stands at 100.3 ug/m3. Under Nepal's government-approved Air Quality Index scale, a reading of 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and anything above 300 hazardous. The Ministry of Health and Population urges all residents to take precautions. According to the ministry, prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and kidneys, and can contribute to conditions including asthma and cancer.

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#13435203

12 March 2026

A thick layer of polluted haze covers Kathmandu Valley as seen from a hill station in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 12, 2026. The city's Air Quality Index ranges between 200 to 250 in the "very unhealthy" category, well above the threshold of 150 that is considered unhealthy and past the 200 mark that signals very unhealthy air. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, the most dangerous category of airborne pollutant due to its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs, records at 129.9 micrograms per cubic meter, more than 25 times the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 5 ug/m3. Coarse particulate matter, PM10, stands at 100.3 ug/m3. Under Nepal's government-approved Air Quality Index scale, a reading of 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and anything above 300 hazardous. The Ministry of Health and Population urges all residents to take precautions. According to the ministry, prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and kidneys, and can contribute to conditions including asthma and cancer.

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#13435205

12 March 2026

A thick layer of polluted haze covers Kathmandu Valley as seen from a hill station in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 12, 2026. The city's Air Quality Index ranges between 200 to 250 in the "very unhealthy" category, well above the threshold of 150 that is considered unhealthy and past the 200 mark that signals very unhealthy air. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, the most dangerous category of airborne pollutant due to its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs, is recorded at 129.9 micrograms per cubic meter, more than 25 times the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 5 ug/m3. Coarse particulate matter, PM10, stands at 100.3 ug/m3. Under Nepal's government-approved Air Quality Index scale, a reading of 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and anything above 300 hazardous. The Ministry of Health and Population urges all residents to take precautions. According to the ministry, prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and kidneys, and can contribute to conditions including asthma and cancer.

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#13435206

12 March 2026

People overlook the polluted haze covering Kathmandu Valley from a hill station in Kathmandu, Nepal, on March 12, 2026, as the Air Quality Index of the bowl-shaped valley continues to dip. The city's Air Quality Index ranges between 200 to 250 in the "very unhealthy" category, well above the threshold of 150 that is considered unhealthy and past the 200 mark that signals very unhealthy air. Fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, the most dangerous category of airborne pollutant due to its ability to penetrate deep into the lungs, is recorded at 129.9 micrograms per cubic meter, more than 25 times the World Health Organization's recommended safe limit of 5 ug/m3. Coarse particulate matter, PM10, stands at 100.3 ug/m3. Under Nepal's government-approved Air Quality Index scale, a reading of 0 to 50 is considered good, 51 to 100 moderate, 101 to 150 unhealthy for sensitive groups, 151 to 200 unhealthy, 201 to 300 very unhealthy, and anything above 300 hazardous. The Ministry of Health and Population urges all residents to take precautions. According to the ministry, prolonged exposure to air pollution can cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, lungs, eyes, and kidneys, and can contribute to conditions including asthma and cancer.

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#13125390

23 December 2025

Indian security personnel frisk a vehicle along a road during a security check in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on December 23, 2025. Security is on high alert across the Kashmir Valley ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Officials say a high level of vigilance is maintained across the city, with increased patrolling, checkpoints, and deployment of additional personnel at sensitive locations. They say the focus remains on maintaining law and order while allowing normal activities to continue without disruption. Meanwhile, amid growing intelligence inputs indicating militants prepare to hit high-value targets in Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Monday, December 22, 2025, says terror groups and their supporters are ''firmly on the radar of the law enforcement agencies,'' The Hindu reports.

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#13125391

23 December 2025

Indian security personnel frisk a vehicle along a road during a security check in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on December 23, 2025. Security is on high alert across the Kashmir Valley ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Officials say a high level of vigilance is maintained across the city, with increased patrolling, checkpoints, and deployment of additional personnel at sensitive locations. They say the focus remains on maintaining law and order while allowing normal activities to continue without disruption. Meanwhile, amid growing intelligence inputs indicating militants prepare to hit high-value targets in Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Monday, December 22, 2025, says terror groups and their supporters are ''firmly on the radar of the law enforcement agencies,'' The Hindu reports.

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#13125392

23 December 2025

Indian security personnel frisk civilians along a road during a security check in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on December 23, 2025. Security is on high alert across the Kashmir Valley ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Officials say a high level of vigilance is maintained across the city, with increased patrolling, checkpoints, and deployment of additional personnel at sensitive locations. They say the focus remains on maintaining law and order while allowing normal activities to continue without disruption. Meanwhile, amid growing intelligence inputs indicating militants prepare to hit high-value targets in Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on December 22, 2025, says terror groups and their supporters are ''firmly on the radar of the law enforcement agencies,'' The Hindu reports.

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#13125394

23 December 2025

An Indian policeman frisks the bag of a civilian during a security check in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on December 23, 2025. Security is on high alert across the Kashmir Valley ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Officials say a high level of vigilance is maintained across the city, with increased patrolling, checkpoints, and deployment of additional personnel at sensitive locations. The focus, they say, remains on maintaining law and order while allowing normal activities to continue without disruption. Meanwhile, amid growing intelligence inputs indicating militants prepare to hit high-value targets in Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on December 22, 2025, says terror groups and their supporters are ''firmly on the radar of the law enforcement agencies,'' The Hindu reports.

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#13125395

23 December 2025

An Indian policeman frisks a civilian during a security check in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on December 23, 2025. Security is on high alert across the Kashmir Valley ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Officials say a high level of vigilance is maintained across the city, with increased patrolling, checkpoints, and deployment of additional personnel at sensitive locations. They say the focus remains on maintaining law and order while allowing normal activities to continue without disruption. Meanwhile, amid growing intelligence inputs indicating militants prepare to hit high-value targets in Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Monday, December 22, 2025, says terror groups and their supporters are ''firmly on the radar of the law enforcement agencies,'' The Hindu reports.

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#13125396

23 December 2025

An Indian security personnel stands alert on the banks of Dal Lake during a security check in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on December 23, 2025. Security is on high alert across the Kashmir Valley ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Officials say a high level of vigilance is maintained across the city, with increased patrolling, checkpoints, and deployment of additional personnel at sensitive locations. The focus, they say, remains on maintaining law and order while allowing normal activities to continue without disruption. Meanwhile, amid growing intelligence inputs indicating militants prepare to hit high-value targets in Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Monday, December 22, 2025, says terror groups and their supporters are ''firmly on the radar of the law enforcement agencies,'' The Hindu reports.

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#13125397

23 December 2025

An Indian security personnel patrols with a metal detector on the banks of Dal Lake during a security check in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir, on December 23, 2025. Security is on high alert across the Kashmir Valley ahead of the Christmas and New Year celebrations. Officials say a high level of vigilance is maintained across the city, with increased patrolling, checkpoints, and deployment of additional personnel at sensitive locations. The focus, they say, remains on maintaining law and order while allowing normal activities to continue without disruption. Meanwhile, amid growing intelligence inputs indicating militants prepare to hit high-value targets in Jammu and Kashmir, Director General of Police (DGP) Nalin Prabhat on Monday, December 22, 2025, says terror groups and their supporters are ''firmly on the radar of the law enforcement agencies,'' The Hindu reports.

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