AQI 'poor' in several parts of Haryana as farm fires continue to surge

Haryana has recorded 42 farm fire incidents on Thursday, the highest in the past 15 days. Similar peak reached on October 15 when the state had recorded 42 cases.

With fresh cases, the total count of fire incidents has reached 784 since September 15. However, the number of cases is less this season in comparison to the previous years.

During the same period, Haryana recorded 1,197 cases in 2023, 1,995 cases in 2022, and 2,914 cases in 2021.

Stubble burning remains a leading contributor to air pollution, compounded this with Diwali firecrackers, which worsened air quality in multiple districts, pushing the Air Quality Index (AQI) from “moderate” to “poor” and even “very poor.”

Out of the total farm fires, four districts account for 427 incidents, with Kaithal topping the list at 147, followed by Kurukshetra with 125 cases, Karnal with 78, and Ambala with 77.

Besides, Jind has recorded 59 cases, Fatehabad (51), Sonepat (42), Faridabad (36), Palwal (33), Yamunanagar (31), Panipat (30), Sirsa (24), Hisar (22), Panchkula (14), Rewari (12), and Jhajjar (3).

Meanwhile, on Friday, the morning after Diwali, AQI readings across the state indicated alarming pollution levels.

Jind recorded the highest AQI at 340, while Ambala and Gurugram followed closely at 308 each, and Kurukshetra at 304, all categorised as “very poor.”

Other districts which reported “poor” AQI levels include Faridabad (296), Bhadurgarh (289), Bhiwani (288), Rohtak (272), Yamunanagar (265), Kaithal (264), Sonepat (259), Hisar (252), Karnal (232), Charkhi Dadri (228), Ballabhgarh (224), Sirsa (217), and Panipat (211).