📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Defence
Health
Stubble‑burn smoke spikes air toxicity in Punjab; Bathinda AQI hits 328
✍️ Amar Ujala · Patiala
🗓 13 Nov 2026, 08:32 AM
👁 12
Stubble burning across Punjab has driven air quality to hazardous levels, with Bathinda recording an AQI of 328, prompting health warnings for residents.
Stubble burning in Punjab’s agricultural fields has begun to dominate the region’s air, creating a toxic haze that is now measurable in city centers. The latest readings from Bathinda show the Air Quality Index soaring to 328, a level classified as hazardous by national standards.
Health officials have warned that every breath taken in the city carries a heightened risk of respiratory irritation and other acute symptoms. Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with pre‑existing lung conditions are being urged to stay indoors, limit outdoor activities, and use protective masks if they must venture out.
The spike in pollution follows a series of coordinated burning events aimed at clearing post‑harvest residue. While farmers cite the practice as a quick way to prepare fields for the next sowing season, the resulting smoke plume has spread across districts, compromising air quality far beyond the immediate burn sites.
Local authorities are monitoring the situation closely and have announced temporary measures, including the deployment of mobile air‑purifying units in high‑traffic areas and the issuance of real‑time alerts through mobile apps and media channels. Residents are advised to keep windows closed, use air‑conditioners on recirculation mode, and seek medical advice if they experience persistent coughing or shortness of breath.
The incident underscores the growing tension between agricultural practices and public health in northern India, prompting calls for alternative residue‑management strategies that could mitigate such severe air‑quality crises in the future.
Health officials have warned that every breath taken in the city carries a heightened risk of respiratory irritation and other acute symptoms. Vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly, and those with pre‑existing lung conditions are being urged to stay indoors, limit outdoor activities, and use protective masks if they must venture out.
The spike in pollution follows a series of coordinated burning events aimed at clearing post‑harvest residue. While farmers cite the practice as a quick way to prepare fields for the next sowing season, the resulting smoke plume has spread across districts, compromising air quality far beyond the immediate burn sites.
Local authorities are monitoring the situation closely and have announced temporary measures, including the deployment of mobile air‑purifying units in high‑traffic areas and the issuance of real‑time alerts through mobile apps and media channels. Residents are advised to keep windows closed, use air‑conditioners on recirculation mode, and seek medical advice if they experience persistent coughing or shortness of breath.
The incident underscores the growing tension between agricultural practices and public health in northern India, prompting calls for alternative residue‑management strategies that could mitigate such severe air‑quality crises in the future.