📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / NASA Earth Observatory images by Wanmei Liang, usi
Health
Faridkot Tops Global Pollution Rankings Amid Festival Fires and Crop Residue Burning
✍️ Amar Ujala · Jalandhar
🗓 11 Nov 2026, 09:41 AM
👁 18
Air quality in Faridkot, Punjab, has plunged to record lows, with officials citing crop residue burning and festive fireworks as primary contributors.
Air monitoring agencies have recorded Faridkot's ambient air quality as the poorest among global cities, marking a severe public‑health concern. The deterioration coincides with the festive season, when large‑scale burning of agricultural residue in surrounding fields releases massive amounts of particulate matter.
Local authorities have also reported a surge in firecracker usage, adding to the already toxic mix of pollutants. Residents describe the sky as a thick, hazy blanket that hampers breathing and reduces visibility across the town.
Health experts warn that prolonged exposure to such high concentrations of fine particles can aggravate respiratory ailments, especially among children, the elderly, and those with pre‑existing conditions. The state pollution control board has urged citizens to limit outdoor activities and has called for stricter enforcement of residue‑burning bans during the celebration period.
While the government has announced plans to deploy additional air‑quality monitoring stations, immediate mitigation measures remain limited. Community groups are urging the adoption of alternative, cleaner methods for crop waste disposal and a reduction in firecracker sales to curb the crisis.
Local authorities have also reported a surge in firecracker usage, adding to the already toxic mix of pollutants. Residents describe the sky as a thick, hazy blanket that hampers breathing and reduces visibility across the town.
Health experts warn that prolonged exposure to such high concentrations of fine particles can aggravate respiratory ailments, especially among children, the elderly, and those with pre‑existing conditions. The state pollution control board has urged citizens to limit outdoor activities and has called for stricter enforcement of residue‑burning bans during the celebration period.
While the government has announced plans to deploy additional air‑quality monitoring stations, immediate mitigation measures remain limited. Community groups are urging the adoption of alternative, cleaner methods for crop waste disposal and a reduction in firecracker sales to curb the crisis.