Patiala, Nov. 10 -- Punjab recorded its sharpest single-day spike in paddy stubble burning this season on Diwali, driven by a shrinking window for wheat sowing. Farm fires jumped 34.8% in 24 hours-adding 1,152 incidents to bring the season's total from 3,307 to 4,459. The current count has already surpassed the 3,316 fires recorded during the same period last year. Data from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), based on ISRO satellite tracking, highlights the breakdown of ground enforcement despite government warnings and monetary penalties. Sangrur led the single-day surge with 194 new fires. Ferozepur added 157 cases, Bathinda 132, Patiala 92, Barnala 91, and Ludhiana 71. With 5,114 total fires recorded across the entire 2025 season, Punjab is on track to breach last year's seasonal count well before official monitoring ends on November 30. The rush to clear fields before the Punjab Agricultural University's recommended wheat sowing deadline of November 15 remains the primary driver. The day after Diwali, the daily tally dropped sharply from 1,152 to 198, with Ludhiana contributing 33 cases, followed by Ferozepur (29), Fazilka (22) and Sangrur (20). Muktsar reported 13 fresh incidents, while Patiala added 11 and Moga 10, taking the state's cumulative count to 4,657. Tarn Taran maintains the highest overall seasonal tally at 659 fires, followed by Ferozepur (621), Sangrur (508), Bathinda (412), Patiala (299), Amritsar (247) and Barnala (245). CAQM records through November 9 show 938 FIRs were registered under Section 223 of the BNS and 1,150 red entries were marked in land revenue records. Additionally, environmental compensation was imposed in 1,442 cases. As many as 1,103 show-cause notices have been issued to enforcement officers and 18 prosecutions initiated, though no suspensions or formal chargesheets have been processed....