Punjab has recorded 574 farm fires so far this season, with 414 of them (72%) concentrated in just two districts: Tarn Taran and Amritsar. As a result, the state’s northwestern Majha region — where these two districts are located — has emerged as Punjab’s biggest hotspot. Punjab is broadly divided into three regions: Majha in the northwest, Doaba in the northeast, and Malwa to the south.

The overall total, recorded between September 15 (when satellite-monitoring of incidents begins each year) and October 24 this year, is marginally higher than last year’s tally (561) for the corresponding period but substantially lower than the respective tally for 2024 (1,678). The numbers show that the sharp reduction recorded last year has largely held, despite a marginal increase this season.

Considering farm fires generally tend to peak in early November, what explains the early spike in such incidents?…