Pollution has gripped Thailand and crippled the lives of people. Chiang Mai, a popular tourist city in the north, was declared the world’s second most polluted city according to reports.

As per Thailand's public health official, the PM2.5 level has been over 51 micrograms per cubic metre of air for more than three consecutive days in 15 provinces, which has begun to affect the people’s health.

Due to the alarming level of pollution, the Thai government has issued an advisory urging  children and pregnant women to stay indoors. People have been asked to wear masks when outside. Also reduce the time of outdoor activities and use personal protective equipment if necessary.

As per official data, more than 1.3 million people in Thailand have fallen ill from air pollution since the beginning of 2023. According to officials 2,00,000 people were hospitalised this week alone.

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-o-cha has urged farmers to stop stubble burning. During the dry season, between December and April, due to forest fires and farmers burning their fields to remove the waste, the country’s air quality deteriorates. According to government officials and pollution experts open burning combined with vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions make perfect conditions for toxic smog leading to this state of Thailand. 

As per the World Health Organization’s State of Global Air report, Thailand ranks second in exposure to air pollution among the Southeast Asian countries.