10 fresh farm fires in Punjab, total count 126

With 10 farm fires reported on Sunday, the total number of such incidents in the state has gone up to 126 during this season. Over 30 per cent of these cases were reported over the past three days. Of the 10 cases reported on Sunday, four occurred in Ferozepur and three each in Amritsar and Tarn Taran.

The number of cases reported on October 12 this year is low compared to the count reported on the same date in 2023 and 2024. The state had witnessed 13 such cases on this date in 2023 and 177 in 2024.

Experts said the figures were likely to spike over the next 10 days after paddy harvesting began in the Malwa belt. With the state recording fewer cases compared to the past years, the air quality is much better this year.

The air quality index in Khanna stood at 104, followed by Patiala (94), Jalandhar (88), Amritsar (86), Ludhiana (85), Bathinda (81) and Mandi Gobindgarh (65).

“With most of the Malwa belt yet to go full throttle on stubble burning, the situation is expected to deteriorate over the next week,” said a senior official of the Punjab Pollution Control Board. The period between October 15 and November 15 is considered critical as most farmers harvest their paddy crop during that period.