Kathmandu. The government has decided to close educational institutions across the country for four days due to increased pollution across the country. The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has decided to close the school as air pollution will seriously affect the health of children. An emergency meeting chaired by Minister Krishna Gopal Shrestha at the ministry has decided to close the school from April 3 to 5.

According to the ministry, the universities and higher education providers conducting the examinations as per the pre-determined schedule will be able to conduct the examinations adopting health care. In this dire situation, the ministry has requested its children to stay indoors during school holidays.

Over the past few days, air pollution has increased in various parts of the country, including the Kathmandu Valley. Due to the increase in smoke and dust in the atmosphere, the air service was also affected due to the thick snow.

Public health experts had suggested the government to shut down public services due to the state of emergency, while urging the public not to go out of the house except for urgent work.