New Delhi, Nov. 10 -- With nearly 200 fresh stubble-burning incidents reported in Punjab on Monday, the cumulative tally this paddy harvesting season rose to 4,657, according to the latest monitoring report of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

Monday's figure came a day after the state recorded its sharpest single-day spike, with 1,152 farm fires reported on Sunday. This means nearly 30% of all stubble-burning incidents recorded this season occurred in just 48 hours.

The sudden surge also triggered a political blame-game, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Delhi government alleging a tenfold increase in farm fires on Diwali, while the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), which governs Punjab, accused it of deflecting attention ...