All educational institutions across the country are on leave for four days from Tuesday due to increase in air pollution

Kathmandu: A meeting chaired by Education Minister Krishna Gopal Shrestha has decided to give leave to all educational institutions across the country for four days from Tuesday. 

Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Sanjay Sharma, informed that the government has decided to give school leave for four days considering the health condition of the students due to the recent increase in air pollution across the country. Following the decision of the government, the educational institution will be closed on March 3, 4, and 5. The meeting has decided that the pre-scheduled examinations will be conducted as they are.

As it is Saturday, March 6, the educational institutions will be open only on Sunday. The meeting also discussed closing the school for a few more days if the pollution does not subside.

The Air Quality Index (AQI) has risen sharply in the atmosphere across the country, including Kathmandu, since Friday. The Air Quality Measurement Center under the Department of Environment has also shown that AQI has exceeded the risk level.

The air quality index of Kathmandu Valley had reached 470 on Friday. The World Health Organization has called an AQI of more than 300 "fatal."