As the Indian capital New Delhi gasps for breath, hundreds of kilometers away, farmers in the fields of Punjab are torching their farm residue, triggering plumes of smoke in their fields, as they race to get ready for the next sowing season.
Breakdown
- Farmers in Punjab are burning fields in preparation for the sowing season.
- Farm fires in Punjab and Haryana are a major source of smog affecting New Delhi and its 30 million residents. 6s
- Many farmers continue burning stubble due to inability to afford alternative machinery, despite being aware of health risks. 18s
- Authorities state that both resistance to procedures and resource gaps contribute to continued stubble burning. 45s
- India has imposed stricter anti-pollution measures in New Delhi as air quality reached severe levels, with winter smog caused by multiple sources. 1m 7s