Farm fires down to five, air still poor

PATIALA: The winter inversion in which pollutants get trapped in the lower layers of the atmosphere is forcing Punjab to breathe in 'poor' to 'very poor' quality of air even as the number of stubble fires in the state dropped to five on Wednesday.

The continuous ambient air quality monitoring station (CAAQMS) installed at eight locations across the state showed the residents were breathing air contaminated with PM2.5 and PM 10 pollutants, most of which are generated because of burning of fossils and leftovers.

According to sources at the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), the situation is likely to improve if there is some rainfall or winds start to blow over. Only five cases of stubble fire were reported on Wednesday - two from Patiala and one each from Sangrur, Bathinda and Mansa. Harvesting of paddy is almost over in the state.