India, Nov. 9 -- For years, the national discourse on air pollution every November has revolved around Delhi's worsening air quality, with Punjab's post-harvest stubble burning frequently projected as a major contributor to the capital's pollution crisis. But as political parties trade accusations over the issue, a more immediate environmental emergency is unfolding within Punjab itself, where several cities and rural pockets are battling dangerously polluted air.Follow Politics

Across the Malwa and Majha regions in Punjab, residents are increasingly exposed to dense smog and elevated concentrations of harmful particulate matter. The situation has been aggravated by a combination of agricultural fires, industrial emissions, vehicular po...