Official data shows 1,152 paddy stubble-burning incidents occurred in the state on Diwali.
Punjab recorded 1,152 fresh paddy stubble-burning incidents on Diwali, marking the largest single-day increase this season, according to official data reported by Rediff and The Times of India.
This spike increased the state's cumulative total from 3,307 cases on November 7 to 4,459 by Sunday.
Tarn Taran has seen the most incidents this season with 654 cases, while Sangrur recorded the most new fires on Sunday with 194, bringing its seasonal total to 488.
Other districts reporting fresh incidents on Sunday included Ferozepur with 157, Bathinda with 132, Patiala with 92, Barnala with 91, and Ludhiana with 71.
Enforcement agencies have registered 884 FIRs under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and made 1,017 red entries in land revenue records.
Environmental compensation exceeding Rs 62 lakh has been imposed in 1,228 cases, with over Rs 32 lakh recovered so far.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) recently met with officials from 12 districts and directed that monitoring be intensified, stating nodal officers must be held accountable for failures in prevention.
