Evening Farm Fires Blamed For Delhi’s Sharp Smog Spike
What Happened
A Hindustan Times analysis says smoke from farm fires in Punjab and Haryana contributed to Delhi’s sharp pollution spike on November 1. It found many fires were lit in the evening, after the NASA satellite commonly used for stubble-fire counts had passed over the region, potentially leaving some fires undetected. Delhi’s AQI rose from 117 on Saturday to 261 on Sunday and 324 by 4 pm Monday. The concern about this monitoring gap predates the latest episode. The Union Environment Ministry had already called for stronger ground-level monitoring of farm fires occurring after 3 pm, when satellite detection can miss incidents.
Key Takeaways
Lower satellite fire counts may not always mean less stubble burning. Evening fires can escape some satellite observations, making ground monitoring important for understanding their actual contribution to Delhi’s pollution.