Kathmandu, March 31 -- A thick layer of haze enveloped the Kathmandu Valley, pushing the Air Quality Index (AQI) into the 'Very Unhealthy' category on Monday.

According to the Ministry of Forests and Environment's Department of Environment Air Quality Monitoring, the air quality in Bhaisipati was classified as 'Hazardous,' with a US AQI reading of 333 as of 2:30 pm (local time).

On Monday afternoon, the dense, polluted haze disrupted flight operations at Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA), leading to the diversion of at least half a dozen international flights.

According to TIA spokesperson Rinji Sherpa, flights from Jazeera Airways, Air India, and Fly Dubai were unable to land due to poor visibility early in the morning.

"This mor...