Ludhiana, May 15 -- Farm fire incidents have witnessed a rise in the district with the number of cases jumping from just 21 at the end of April to 546 by May 13, according to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). In merely two weeks, the district recorded an alarming increase of over 500 incidents of farm fires, pushing the figures close to last year's total, when the number was nearly 600.

In response, the administration has already made 66 red entries against violators and registered one FIR under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to Gurdeep Singh, chief agriculture officer of the district, farm fire incidents generally continue to be reported until mid-May, and the highest number of cases usua...