Patiala, April 27 -- Farm fire incidents have begun to return in Punjab, with 46 cases reported on April 25, pushing the cumulative count since April 15 to 197.

The disclosure was made through satellite monitoring data released by the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).

Hoshiarpur is leading with 24 incidents of stubble burning, followed by Bathinda (17), Ferozepur (16), Kapurthala (16), Barnala (15), Fazilka (15), Mansa (11), Jalandhar (10), Faridkot (10), Sangrur (10), Patiala (9) and Shaheed Bhagat Singh Nagar (9). Last year, Punjab reported 10,207 farm fire cases in April and May.

The Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) begins monitoring farm fires from April 15, when wheat harvesting starts and continues until May 31,...