📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Satdeep Gill
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Patiala's Air Quality Plummets to Hazardous Levels Amid Stubble Burning in Punjab
✍️ Amar Ujala · Amritsar
🗓 06 Nov 2026, 09:05 AM
👁 9
Stubble burning across Punjab has pushed Patiala's air into the most hazardous category, raising health concerns for residents.
Air quality monitors across Punjab have recorded a sharp deterioration as stubble burning intensifies ahead of the sowing season. In Patiala, the National Air Quality Index placed the ambient air in the highest danger tier, indicating severe pollution levels that can affect even healthy individuals.
The dense smoke, originating from fields where farmers set fire to residual crop residues, has spread across the city, reducing visibility and prompting health advisories. Local authorities have urged residents to limit outdoor activities, especially for children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.
While the state government has announced measures to curb the practice, including subsidies for mechanised residue removal, the immediate impact remains evident. Environmental agencies continue to monitor pollutant concentrations and will update the public as the situation evolves.
Experts warn that prolonged exposure to such polluted air can exacerbate asthma, bronchitis and other chronic illnesses, underscoring the need for swift, coordinated action to address the seasonal burning.
The situation in Patiala reflects a broader regional challenge, as several other Punjabi cities report similarly poor air quality, highlighting the urgent demand for sustainable agricultural practices.
The dense smoke, originating from fields where farmers set fire to residual crop residues, has spread across the city, reducing visibility and prompting health advisories. Local authorities have urged residents to limit outdoor activities, especially for children, the elderly and those with respiratory conditions.
While the state government has announced measures to curb the practice, including subsidies for mechanised residue removal, the immediate impact remains evident. Environmental agencies continue to monitor pollutant concentrations and will update the public as the situation evolves.
Experts warn that prolonged exposure to such polluted air can exacerbate asthma, bronchitis and other chronic illnesses, underscoring the need for swift, coordinated action to address the seasonal burning.
The situation in Patiala reflects a broader regional challenge, as several other Punjabi cities report similarly poor air quality, highlighting the urgent demand for sustainable agricultural practices.