Nepal, June 20 -- Urban heat was unheard of in the Kathmandu Valley, which was once dotted by greenery, lush paddy fields and open spaces. Residents enjoyed a moderate climate throughout the year. However, rapid urbanisation following the democratic revolution in 1990 turned the Valley into a concrete jungle, significantly raising local temperatures. A recent study published in the journal Urban Climate paints an alarming picture: Since 1976, Kathmandu's average temperatures have increased by 0.38 degrees Celsius decade-on-decade, and the urban core is usually 2-3 degrees hotter than the outskirts. Kathmandu has thus become a sad case of how haphazard construction, dense industrial sites, and the destruction of natural heat absorbers-pond...