Kathmandu, Jan. 20 -- Along with poor quality of education, unaffordable healthcare, lack of safe drinking water, crumbling infrastructure, Nepalis have learnt not to expect anything from any government.

So, even if they are seething inside, there is no visible outrage over the toxic air we are all forced to breathe.

In 2019 alone, 42,100 people died directly of air pollution in Nepal. Residents of Kathmandu will have lifespans reduced by up to four years due to dirty air. Even unborn babies are affected by their mothers' long-term exposure to pollutants.

Dirty airhas increased chronic respiratory diseases such as COPD,asthma, cancer, and cardiac arrest. Air quality in the capital is now so bad, Nepalis are becoming 'pollution refugees...