Fire tracker: State records 57 incidents on Wednesday; negligible impact of Cyclone Dana

The Meteorological Department's statement that Cyclone Dana will have negligible or no impact on the prevailing weather conditions in the region has come as a huge relief to farmers, whose crops are lying in the open in the mandis across the region and are waiting to be lifted.

Sharing details, the Director of the Chandigarh Meteorological Centre, Surendra Paul, said similar conditions would continue to prevail in the region next week. “There appears to be a low possibility of any western disturbance. So, the possibility of showers or strong wind, which settles the dust or blows it away, is highly unlikely,” he said.

The atmosphere would continue to remain dry and hazy, with a blanket of fog in the region.

Meanwhile, the state record 57 farm fires on Wednesday. Fourteen incidents of fire were reported in Patiala, nine in Amritsar, eight in Ferozepur, five in Fatehgarh Sahib, and four each in Bathinda and Ludhiana. The total count has reached 1,638.

While residue burning incidents are on the decline, Amritsar continues to top the state with 451 incidents of residue burning reported so far, followed by Tarn Taran (328) and Patiala (210).

The Air Quality Index (AQI) of major districts in the state has also started to deteriorate. The industrial town of Mandi Gobind remained the most polluted city of the state with AQI of 234 points, followed by Amritsar (210) and Ludhiana (206). At 72, Bathinda remained the cleanest. While in Patiala (171), Jalandhar (158) and Khanna (157), the air quality remained in the moderate category.

Cautioning residents, doctors at government-run medical institutions have warned that the present conditions are ideal for triggering nasal and bronchial allergies.

Dr Vishal Chopra, head of the Department of Pulmonary Medicine, TB Hospital in Patiala, said there had been a rise in the number of patients visiting the OPD for cough, allergy, asthma and eye allergies. People must avoid direct exposure and wear masks and glasses while travelling on two-wheelers, he said.

Offer Rs 300/quintal for residue management: Health Minister

After the government crackdown on farmers setting paddy residue on fire, Health Minister Balbir Singh on Thursday came out in support of the farmers, saying that the government should incentivise them instead of penalising them. Besides, 847 FIRs, 471 DDRs and 394 red entries, Rs 10.55 lakh penalty has been imposed on farmers. The minister said farmers would not resort to stubble burning if the Centre provided Rs 300 per quintal for residue management as compensation — as recommended by the green tribunal.