Patiala, Oct. 31 -- With 194 fresh cases reported over the past 24 hours, Punjab witnessed its highest single-day spike in stubble-burning incidents this paddy harvesting season, taking the total count to 1,007.

The spike comes at a time when 64.5% of the paddy harvesting process has been completed in Punjab, compared to 69.49% during the corresponding period last year. This means that a relatively larger proportion of the crop is still standing in the fields this season, raising concerns over the possibility of further escalation in farm fires as harvesting gathers pace.

Tarn Taran alone accounts for 397 incidents, followed by Amritsar with 171 and Ferozepur with 104 - together accounting for 67% of the state's total cases.

According ...