77 farm fires recorded in two days

Haryana has recorded 77 active fire locations in two days — 42 on Thursday and 35 on Friday. These are the top two numbers in a day after October 15.

The total count of fire incidents has risen to 819. But the number is less in this season in comparison to the previous years. During the same period, Haryana recorded 1,296 cases in 2023, 2,083 cases in 2022 and 3,038 cases in 2021.

Out of the total active fire locations, four districts account for 440 cases, with Kaithal being on top with 155 cases, followed by Kurukshetra with 128 cases, Karnal with 79 and Ambala with 78.

Besides, Fatehabad has recorded 62 cases, Jind (61), Sonepat (42), Faridabad (37), Palwal (36), Yamunanagar (31), Panipat (31), Sirsa (27), Hisar (23), Panchkula (14), Rohtak (12) and Jhajjar (3).

Stubble burning remains a leading contributor to air pollution. Compounded with the bursting of Diwali firecrackers, it has worsened air quality in multiple districts, pushing the air quality index (AQI) from “moderate” to “poor” and even “very poor.”

As per the bulletin of Central Pollution Control Board’s data at 4 pm on November 1, AQI readings across the state indicated alarming pollution levels. Ambala recorded AQI at 367, Gurugram at 309, Kurukshetra at 306, all categorised as “very poor”.

The AQI of Sonepat was at 290, Jind at 286, Yamunanagar at 282, Bahadurgarh at 269, Rohtak at 268, Karnal at 259, Kaithal at 255, Hisar at 255, Manesar at 244, Panchkula at 226, Ballabhgarh at 218, Panipat at 211, Sirsa at 207, which are in the poor quality category.

However, after Diwali night, the AQI was different in some areas of the state. The AQI readings at 9 am on Friday revealed that Jind recorded the highest AQI at 340, Ambala and Gurugram followed closely at 308 each, and Kurukshetra at 304, all categorised as “very poor.” Other districts also reported “poor” AQI levels: Faridabad (296), Bahadurgarh (289), Bhiwani (288), Rohtak (272), and Yamunanagar (265). Additional concerning readings include Kaithal (264), Sonepat (259), Hisar (252), Karnal (232), Charkhi Dadri (228), Ballabhgarh (224), Sirsa (217), Panipat (211), all in “poor air quality” category.

As per the CPCB, AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, between 51 and 100 satisfactory, between 101 and 200 moderate. The AQI between 201 and 300 is poor, between 301 and 400 is very poor, and between 401 and 500 is severe.