Stubble Burning Continues In Punjab, Haryana As Delhi AQI Dips To 'Severe' Category

Incidents of stubble burning at the Karamgarh village of Sri Muktsar Sahib in Punjab and the Kaithal district of Haryana.

Stubble burning at the Karamgarh village of Sri Muktsar Sahib in Punjab on Wednesday.

Source : ANI

As the pollution in Delhi recorded the country's worst air quality on Wednesday turning to 'severe' for the first time this season, stubble burning continued in parts of Punjab and Haryana. The Air Quality Index (AQI) marked 418, according to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) data.

A video shared by news agency ANI shows stubble burning in the Kaithal district of Haryana on Wednesday. 

#WATCH | Haryana: Incident of stubble burning seen in a field in Kaithal. pic.twitter.com/SWNIps9gSu

— ANI (@ANI) November 12, 2024

Similarly, another incident of stubble burning can be seen at the Karamgarh village of Sri Muktsar Sahib in Punjab.

#WATCH | Punjab: An incident of stubble burning in the Karamgarh village of Sri Muktsar Sahib pic.twitter.com/wwFDjzXJ6o

— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2024

After plummeting the air quality in Delhi, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla was found wearing a gas mask. Lashing out at AAP over their role in curbing this measure, he said, "Delhi has become a gas chamber. AAP used to blame stubble burning in Punjab for that. Now, more than 6000 cases of stubble burning have happened in Punjab but they chose to stay silent on that. They blame Diwali, UP, and Haryana for the rise in air pollution. But they stay silent on the internal reasons of Delhi for this situation...Whether it is pollution in Yamuna River or air pollution in Delhi, AAP is responsible for all this."

#WATCH | BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla wears a gas mask as the pollution level increases in Delhi-NCR.

He says, "...Delhi has become a gas chamber. AAP used to blame stubble burning in Punjab for that. Now, more than 6000 cases of stubble burning have happened in Punjab but they… pic.twitter.com/OlavZfWXsh

— ANI (@ANI) November 13, 2024

Air Quality Management Identify Vehicle Emissions As Top Pollution Source

Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) confirmed that on Delhi's 36 monitoring stations, 30 reported air quality in the 'severe' category.

The 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) in the national capital, recorded at 4 pm each day, reached 334 on Tuesday. AQI ratings classify air quality as follows: 0-50 is 'good', 51-100 'satisfactory', 101-200 'moderate', 201-300 'poor', 301-400 'very poor', 401-450 'severe', and above 450 'severe plus'.

CPCB data shows that Delhi's AQI fell into the 'severe' category for three days in January, a level that the CPCB states affects healthy individuals and poses serious risks to those with pre-existing health issues.

The Centre’s Decision Support System for Air Quality Management identified vehicle emissions as the top pollution source in Delhi, contributing approximately 13.3% to the city's overall pollution levels.