Farm fires surge nearly sevenfold on November 8 as Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra alleges that fields were deliberately set ablaze while farmers celebrated Diwali.
Punjab recorded 1,152 farm fire incidents on November 8, the day of Diwali, marking a nearly sevenfold increase compared with the previous day, according to satellite-monitoring data reported on Monday.
With the latest incidents, the total number of stubble-burning cases in the state has reached 4,456 during the ongoing paddy season, raising fresh concerns over agricultural fires and their impact on air quality.
The sharp spike has also triggered allegations of deliberate arson. Delhi Labour Minister Kapil Mishra, addressing a press conference on Monday, claimed that unidentified people entered farmers’ fields across Punjab and deliberately set them on fire while farmers were celebrating Diwali with their families.
Mishra said that calls had been received from farmers since Sunday evening, reporting that their agricultural fields were being set ablaze at night.
According to the minister, some farmers alleged that people were setting fire to their fields and fleeing while families were occupied with Diwali celebrations.
However, the allegations of deliberate arson remain claims made by the minister, and independent verification or official findings establishing the cause of the reported fires were not provided in the statement.
The sudden increase in recorded farm fires has once again brought Punjab’s stubble-burning problem into focus, with the latest figures raising questions about the causes behind the spike and the measures needed to prevent further incidents.
