Patiala, Oct. 27 -- Punjab on Sunday reported 122 new cases of stubble burning, marking the highest single-day spike this year and taking the total count this season to 743. This is the first day this year that the state has recorded farm fire incidents in three digits in a single day.

According to data from the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB), which monitors stubble burning from September 15 to November 30, of the total 122 cases recorded on Sunday, nearly 70 were reported from the south Malwa region.

Punjab, which was experiencing its lowest burning season on record, has seen a sharp escalation in the number of fires over the past week. In the last week alone, the state added 502 fresh cases.

To be sure, the paddy harvesting se...