Farm fire count 255 in Jalandhar, Kapurthala so far

With over 100 farm fires being reported in Jalandhar and Kapurthala in the past four days, the total number of farm fires in the districts has crossed the 250 mark.

As many as 126 farm fires were reported in Jalandhar and Kapurthala on October 28, the number reached 255 today with over 100 being reported in the past merely four days.

Kapurthala alone has recorded 201 farm fires while in Jalandhar so far, the count is 54. In Jalandhar, 15 farm fires were reported today, seven farm fires on October 31, zero on October 30 and five on October 29.

Meanwhile, in Kapurthala, 43 farm fires were reported today and 35 on October 31.

Of the 158 farm fires reported at Kapurthala until October 31, 76 were reported at Sultanpur Lodhi, 47 at Bholath, 33 at Kapurthala and two at Phagwara.

The spike in farm fires around Diwali has taken the count across Jalandhar and Kapurthala to peak, simultaneoulsy rendering the air unbreathable. Along with Diwali crackers, this has caused the AQI in the region to see it’s worst hike in the season. Jalandhar witnessed a maximum AQI of 482 and average AQI of 211 today.

With a rise in farm fires, the action against farmers burning stubble by the administration has also risen. As many as 17 FIRs have been registered in Jalandhar while there have been 60 such FIRs against farmers in Kapurthala. Of these FIRs, 33 have been registered against farmers at Sultanpur Lodhi, 12 at Bholath, 13 at Kapurthala and two at Phagwara.

Meanwhile, 82 red entries have also been made against farmers at Kapurthala (33 at Sultanpur Lodhi, 32 at Bhoalth, 15 at Kapurthala and 2 at Phagwara). At Kapurthala, fine of Rs 2,55,000 have been levied against farmers.