Record 1,251 straw fires in a day in Punjab

Just when it was being assumed that farm fires in Punjab have passed the peak, the state witnessed 1,251 incidents on Monday, the highest this season so far. The total number of such cases across the state has reached 9,655.

Muktsar topped the list with 247 incidents, followed by Moga (149), Ferozepur (130), Bathinda (129), Fazilka (94), Faridkot (88), Tarn Taran (77) and Ferozepur (73).

The Punjab Pollution Control Board is under scrutiny and has been facing allegations of under-reporting farm fires. The scientists monitoring such cases claim the farmers are dodging the satellite by setting paddy residue on fire after 3 pm.

On Monday also, farmers were seen setting paddy residue on fire along the Patiala-Sirhind road in Patiala and Fatehgarh districts after 3 pm.

Ludhiana remained the most polluted city in the state with an AQI of 274, followed by Patiala (259) and Jalandhar (245). Amritsar and Mandi Gobindgarh also remained in the “poor” category with the value of particulate matter PM-10 reaching 242 and 217, respectively.