Overview

• Punjab recorded 33 farm fires in a day to reach 241 incidents since September 15, according to state monitoring data.
• Tarn Taran and Amritsar are the worst affected districts with 88 and 80 cases, followed by Ferozepur with 16 and Patiala with 11.
• Air quality deteriorated across several towns, with Mandi Gobindgarh posting an AQI of 238 and higher readings also reported in Jalandhar and Ludhiana.
• Authorities have registered 132 FIRs, marked 87 red entries in land records and imposed environmental compensation totaling about Rs 5.60 lakh, with Rs 4.15 lakh recovered.
• Satellite analysis cited by experts shows 2,009 farm fires in Pakistan’s Punjab versus 189 in Indian Punjab during October 9–18, indicating a significant transboundary pollution load.