Chandigarh

After floods in Punjab and Haryana, stubble burning decreased by 77 pc

October 15, 2025

Chandigarh, Oct 15

The 2025 floods in Punjab and Haryana have served as an “unplanned intervention” that lowered rice crop residue fire activity as high as 77 per cent, leading to a 15.5 per cent reduction in Delhi’s average PM2.5 levels this month in comparison with last year’s, an analysis said on Wednesday.

The analysis using the data of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and NASA revealed that with stubble burning curtailed, Delhi’s PM2.5 still remained above 50 µg/m3, revealing a significant background load from other sources -- traffic, industries, and dust re-suspension.

Fine particulate matter is defined as particles that are 2.5 microns or less in diameter (PM2.5). Prolonged exposure to levels above 50 μg/m3 can lead to serious health issues and premature mortality.

 

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