Only 3 farm fires in 4 days, yet air quality in ‘very poor’ category

While only three farm fires have been reported in Jalandhar in the past four days, the city’s air quallity index (AQI) has plummeted to new lows.

Jalandhar’s air quality dropped to ‘very poor’ category on Thursday night as the city registered AQI between 314 to 318. On Friday, the maximum AQI was recorded at 314 and on Saturday at 304. Theree has also been a rise in cases of respiratory diseases.

Residents complained of watery eyes, sore throat and difficulty in breathing, especially among those with a history of respiratory illnesses, on Thursday night as a cloudy haze overtook the skies in the district. Night time skies in Jalandhar consistently bear a slight sting since then.

Usually, change in weather and the stubble burning are attributed as reasons for bad air. But this time, Jalandhar has only reported three stubble fires in the past four days.

Respiratory trouble on the rise

We are getting six to seven new cases of asthma and other respiratory illnesses each day. Apart from stubble burning, approaching winters, vehicular pollution and contruction waste can be factors behind aggravating episodes of asthamtics. — Dr HJ Singh, Chest Specialist & Bronchoscopist

Officials said the pollution may have been caused from farm fires in other neghbouring districts. In the current paddy harvest season, 104 farm fires have been reported in Jalandhar and Kapurthala — 22 in Jalandhar and 82 in Kapurthala. Sixteen farm fires were reported in Jalandhar (3) and Kapurthala (13) in the past four days. Seven fires were reported in both districts yesterday and four today.

In Jalandhar, three farm fires were reported (one each, per day) on October 23, 24 and 25. At Kapurthala, four farm fires were reported today, six yesterday (October 25), two on Thursday (October 24) and one on October 23.

An average AQI of 173 (moderate level) was registered on Thursday with minimum AQI of 86 and maximum of 318. On Friday, the average AQI was 171 - minimum at 66 and maximum at 314. On Saturday, the average AQI was 183, with minimum at 67 and maximum at 303.

Sandeep Kumar, Senior Environmental Engineer, PPCB, Jalandhar, said, “The sting in the night air may have been caused due to farm fires in the neighbouring districts of Kapurthala and Amritsar.”

Balbir Chand, Chief Agricultral Officer, Kapurthala, said, “The change in the air and the dip in temperature might have given way to the night haze. The air quality across the region has taken an overall dip.”