Punjab reports 841 stubble burning cases in a day, taking the state’s seasonal farm fire tally to 7,927 during the ongoing wheat harvesting season. The latest spike shows that crop residue burning remains a serious air pollution and enforcement challenge in North India, even as authorities continue action against violators.

Punjab had earlier reported 1,447 farm fire cases on May 8, the highest single-day tally this season, followed by 932 cases on May 9. On Sunday, Punjab again recorded the highest number of stubble burning incidents among the five monitored states.

Districts With the Highest Farm Fire Cases

Ferozepur remained the worst-affected district, reporting 773 cases till May 10. It was followed by Tarn Taran, Bathinda, Amritsar, Moga, Sangrur, and Gurdaspur. Other districts such as Ludhiana, Muktsar, Fazilka, Barnala, Mansa, Faridkot, Patiala, Jalandhar, Kapurthala, Hoshiarpur, and Malerkotla also reported significant numbers.

Key Stubble Burning Statistics

Other States Also Report Farm Fires

• Haryana reported 95 cases: Haryana also recorded farm fire activity on Sunday, though the number was much lower than Punjab’s daily count.
• Madhya Pradesh reported 348 cases: Madhya Pradesh continued to show a high number of crop residue burning incidents during the wheat harvesting season.
• Uttar Pradesh reported 225 cases: Uttar Pradesh also contributed significantly to the overall farm fire count among the monitored states.
• Seasonal total crossed 61,000: Across monitored states, the total number of farm fires during the current wheat harvesting season reached 61,168.
• Madhya Pradesh led the season tally: Madhya Pradesh alone accounted for 35,440 incidents, making it the largest contributor this season.
• Five-year crop burning total: CREAMS data shows that between 2022 and May 10, 2026, India recorded 2,59,707 crop residue burning cases.

Estimated Totals

• Madhya Pradesh had the highest long-term count: Madhya Pradesh accounted for 1,30,126 cases, contributing more than half of the total cases recorded during this period.
• Uttar Pradesh followed next: Uttar Pradesh recorded 60,540 cases, making it the second-highest contributor.
• Punjab remained a major hotspot: Punjab reported 55,904 cases between 2022 and May 10, 2026.
• Haryana and Delhi reported lower totals: Haryana recorded 12,961 cases, while Delhi reported 176 cases during the same period.

Enforcement Action in Punjab

• FIRs registered: Authorities had registered 306 FIRs against violators till May 8.
• Red entries made: Officials had made 503 red entries in land records as part of enforcement action.
• Environmental compensation imposed: Punjab had imposed environmental compensation of Rs 42.8 lakh.
• Continued monitoring: Satellite-based monitoring by CREAMS continues to track active farm fire locations across major agricultural states.

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Why Stubble Burning Matters for North India’s Air

Punjab reports 841 stubble burning cases in a day, and research shows that stubble burning in northern India releases particulate matter and trace gases that affect both local and regional air quality. Studies have linked crop residue burning to sharp increases in PM2.5 and PM10 levels, especially during seasonal burning periods.

The impact is not limited to villages or farm districts. Smoke from burning fields can travel across regions, worsening pollution in urban areas, including Delhi-NCR. TERI has noted that stubble burning creates health, climate, and economic costs, including disruptions to transport and daily activity during severe pollution episodes.

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Final Takeaway

The latest numbers show that Punjab’s stubble burning problem remains far from controlled. With 841 fresh cases in a single day and the seasonal tally nearing 8,000, stronger enforcement, better residue management, and farmer-focused alternatives will be critical to reducing pollution across North India.

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