Farm fires cross 2,500, 62% cases in six days

The stubble-burning count in the state reached 2,518 on Monday with 256 fresh cases. Of the total, 1,585 cases (around 62%) have been reported over the past six days.

Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s home district Sangrur reported the highest 61 case on Monday, followed by Tarn Taran and Ferozepur (27 each), Bathinda (22), Mansa and Moga (18 each).

Cumulatively, Tarn Taran (423), Sangrur (389), Amritsar (212), Ferozepur (207), Bathinda (134), and Patiala (130) account for the bulk of the season’s total.

According to the Punjab Pollution Control Board, environmental compensation has been imposed in 917 cases, with fines amounting to over Rs 47 lakh, of which Rs 22 lakh has been recovered. The police have registered 590 FIRs while the Revenue Department has made 841 “red entries” against violators.

Major cities continued to report poor air quality, with AQI levels recorded at 161 in Amritsar, 166 in Jalandhar, 179 in Ludhiana, 181 in Khanna, 164 in Mandi Gobindgarh, 159 in Patiala, and 159 in Bathinda.

Experts said elevated PM2.5 concentrations were causing respiratory discomfort, particularly among patients with lung ailments.

Two killed in road mishap as smog ‘reduces visibility’

Moga: Two men were killed after their motorcycle rammed into a roadside tree here, an incident allegedly took place as dense smog caused by farm fires reduced visibility.

The victims were identified as Sat Pal Singh, a farmer from Rode village, and Bhagwan Deep, a migrant labourer from Uttar Pradesh. The accident took place on the Nagah road.

While police are investigating the cause, villagers alleged that dense smog caused by stubble burning in the area drastically reduced visibility.

The accident occurred around dusk when large patches of farmland along the route were reportedly set ablaze.“The cause is under investigation, and it does not appear to be linked to stubble burning,” a police officer said.