Farm fires on rise, AQI deteriorates

The Air Quality Index (AQI) of the city in the wee hours of Friday was reported at 357 while it came down to 175 around 1 pm, which still remains “unhealthy”.

Thanks to the increasing number of farm fires in this part of the region, which is contributing towards deterioration of the air quality.

Talking to The Tribune, Nodal Officer for farm fires in the district Amritpal Singh said on November 6 alone, 29 cases of farm fires were reported from the district, which were highest so far this year. In 2023, 89 farm fires were reported and the graph came drastically down in 2024, to just one on November 6.

Experts suggest that AQI levels keep on fluctuating throughout the day and night. An expert from the PPCB, Patiala, said maximum farm fires occur during night hours as farmers feel that as compared to daytime, it was easy to burn stubble during night hours.

“It’s the reason that the AQI is at its maximum level during night and early morning hours,” the expert added.

Pooja, an asthma patient, said the pollution levels had increased and she faces difficulty in breathing freely when smog levels were high. “I cannot walk in the open during evenings due to smog,” she said.

The PPCB experts had already warned that the situation would be tough in the region till the third week of November when farm fires would be at peak all over.