Patiala, Oct. 23 -- Punjab recorded 50 fresh stubble burning incidents taking the cumulative tally to 454 as of October 21, surpassing the 415 cases reported during the corresponding period last year, according to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). The state recorded 5,114 farm fires during the entire paddy harvesting season last year.

The annual farm fire monitoring period begins on September 15, two weeks before paddy procurement starts on October 1.

Tarn Taran has emerged as the worst-affected district, accounting for 218 of the 454 incidents, nearly half of the state's total. Amritsar followed with 125 cases, while Gurdaspur and Ferozepur reported 28 and 23 incidents, respectively.

Most fires have been reported fr...