SANGRUR/BARNALA:, Oct. 31 -- Officials across the districts of Sangrur and Barnala are facing administrative action as authorities crack down on the rising number of stubble burning incidents.

A total of 43 cluster officials have been issued show-cause notices for failing to control farm fires within their jurisdictions. In the last few days, Sangrur, the home district of chief minister Bhagwant Mann, has seen an uptick in farm fire cases. Of the 1,418 farm fires cases in the state so far, Sangrur has reported 218, second-highest in the state.

Last year, the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), which monitors stubble burning from September 15 to November 30, had recorded a total of 10,909 farm fire cases in the state, with Sangrur top...