News Analysis India

Tag: Punjab

  • Punjab Police cracks down against radical preacher Amritpal Singh

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police is learnt to have launched a crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh on Saturday.

    Internet services have been suspended till 12 pm Sunday, said a senior official of the Home affairs department. There was no official confirmation on the police action though.

    Amripal’s cavalcade was reportedly intercepted by police in Mehatpur village in Jalandhar district on Saturday. Though he managed to escape, six of his supporters were learnt to have been detained.

    Some supporters of ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief shared some videos on social media claiming that policemen were chasing them.

    A video also showed Amritpal sitting in a vehicle and one of his aides could be heard saying policemen were after ‘Bhai saab’ (Amritpal).

    Another supporter in a field shared a video in which he was claiming that policemen were after him.

    Meanwhile, the Punjab Police asked people to maintain peace and harmony.

    “Request all citizens to maintain peace & harmony. Punjab Police is working to maintain Law & Order. Request citizens not to panic or spread fake news or hate speech,” it said in a tweet.

    Last month, Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into the Ajnala Police Station on the outskirts of the Amritsar city, and clashed with police for the release of one of Amritpal’s aide.

    During the incident, six policemen including a Superintendent of Police rank officer had suffered injuries.

    CHANDIGARH: Punjab Police is learnt to have launched a crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh on Saturday.

    Internet services have been suspended till 12 pm Sunday, said a senior official of the Home affairs department. There was no official confirmation on the police action though.

    Amripal’s cavalcade was reportedly intercepted by police in Mehatpur village in Jalandhar district on Saturday. Though he managed to escape, six of his supporters were learnt to have been detained.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-8052921-2’); });

    Some supporters of ‘Waris Punjab De’ chief shared some videos on social media claiming that policemen were chasing them.

    A video also showed Amritpal sitting in a vehicle and one of his aides could be heard saying policemen were after ‘Bhai saab’ (Amritpal).

    Another supporter in a field shared a video in which he was claiming that policemen were after him.

    Meanwhile, the Punjab Police asked people to maintain peace and harmony.

    “Request all citizens to maintain peace & harmony. Punjab Police is working to maintain Law & Order. Request citizens not to panic or spread fake news or hate speech,” it said in a tweet.

    Last month, Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into the Ajnala Police Station on the outskirts of the Amritsar city, and clashed with police for the release of one of Amritpal’s aide.

    During the incident, six policemen including a Superintendent of Police rank officer had suffered injuries.

  • Punjab: BSF recovers drugs, arms after gunfight with smugglers along Pak border

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: The BSF on Saturday recovered 20 packets of heroin and a cache of arms and ammunition after a gunfight with Pakistani smugglers along the international border of India and Pakistan in Punjab’s Gurdaspur, an official said.

    The gunfight began when the 113 Battalion of the Border Security Force noticed suspicious movement of smugglers ahead of fencing in the area near Khasawali village in the Gurdaspur district early morning, said the official.

    “During patrolling in the dense fog at 5.30 am, BSF constable Hem Ram noticed some suspicious movement. As he challenged them, the smugglers from the Pakistani side opened fire. Our jawan retaliated with 25 rounds,” BSF Deputy Inspector General Prabhakar Joshi told reporters in Gurdaspur.

    Joshi said a team led by a patrol commander soon joined them and helped in the gunfight, which went on for a “long time.”

    Later, in a search operation, the force found a 15-foot-long pipe about 30 metres away from the fencing, with 20 packets of heroin in it, said Joshi.

    A further search of the area led to the recovery of two pistols (one made in Turkey and the other Made in China), six magazines, and 242 live rounds, said the BSF DIG.

    Joshi also said that they are finding out about Indians who crossed the border and are engaged in smuggling narcotics to this side.

    The BSF has also shared information about the Saturday incident with the Punjab Police, he said, adding they are making efforts to nab the Indian receivers of the consignment.

    In another incident, the BSF said its troops opened fire at a Pakistani drone in the area falling under Ramdas Police Station, adding that a search operation was underway.

    CHANDIGARH: The BSF on Saturday recovered 20 packets of heroin and a cache of arms and ammunition after a gunfight with Pakistani smugglers along the international border of India and Pakistan in Punjab’s Gurdaspur, an official said.

    The gunfight began when the 113 Battalion of the Border Security Force noticed suspicious movement of smugglers ahead of fencing in the area near Khasawali village in the Gurdaspur district early morning, said the official.

    “During patrolling in the dense fog at 5.30 am, BSF constable Hem Ram noticed some suspicious movement. As he challenged them, the smugglers from the Pakistani side opened fire. Our jawan retaliated with 25 rounds,” BSF Deputy Inspector General Prabhakar Joshi told reporters in Gurdaspur.

    Joshi said a team led by a patrol commander soon joined them and helped in the gunfight, which went on for a “long time.”

    Later, in a search operation, the force found a 15-foot-long pipe about 30 metres away from the fencing, with 20 packets of heroin in it, said Joshi.

    A further search of the area led to the recovery of two pistols (one made in Turkey and the other Made in China), six magazines, and 242 live rounds, said the BSF DIG.

    Joshi also said that they are finding out about Indians who crossed the border and are engaged in smuggling narcotics to this side.

    The BSF has also shared information about the Saturday incident with the Punjab Police, he said, adding they are making efforts to nab the Indian receivers of the consignment.

    In another incident, the BSF said its troops opened fire at a Pakistani drone in the area falling under Ramdas Police Station, adding that a search operation was underway.

  • Bus strike across Punjab, commuters face inconvenience

    By PTI

    AMRITSAR: People faced inconvenience at many places in Punjab on Saturday due to a strike called by contractual employees of a government transport undertaking to press for various demands.

    The protesting employees claimed that over 2,000 buses of the government’s undertaking PUNBUS were off the roads at various bus depots during the state-wide protest.

    The protest affected passengers at various places in the state, including Ludhiana, Moga, Amritsar and Ferozepur. Some passengers said they had to opt for private buses or taxis to reach their destination.

    The employees are protesting against the outsourcing of 28 posts of drivers.

    Their demands include cancellation of recruitment through outsourcing and formation of a better hiring policy for the department.

    An employee union leader in Ludhiana said the next decision on the strike will be taken after a meeting with the government slated in Chandigarh on Monday.

    In Amritsar, vice-president of the protesting employees union Jodh Singh said buses would remain off the roads till their demands are met.

    He said their demands also include immediate payment of the promised five per cent hike to temporary workers.

    AMRITSAR: People faced inconvenience at many places in Punjab on Saturday due to a strike called by contractual employees of a government transport undertaking to press for various demands.

    The protesting employees claimed that over 2,000 buses of the government’s undertaking PUNBUS were off the roads at various bus depots during the state-wide protest.

    The protest affected passengers at various places in the state, including Ludhiana, Moga, Amritsar and Ferozepur. Some passengers said they had to opt for private buses or taxis to reach their destination.

    The employees are protesting against the outsourcing of 28 posts of drivers.

    Their demands include cancellation of recruitment through outsourcing and formation of a better hiring policy for the department.

    An employee union leader in Ludhiana said the next decision on the strike will be taken after a meeting with the government slated in Chandigarh on Monday.

    In Amritsar, vice-president of the protesting employees union Jodh Singh said buses would remain off the roads till their demands are met.

    He said their demands also include immediate payment of the promised five per cent hike to temporary workers.

  • Farmers lay siege to toll plazas in Punjab over debt waiver

    Express News Service

    CHANDIGARH:  Farmers of Punjab on Thursday intensified their protest and assured commuters of toll-free travel at 18 plazas in 10 districts of the state against the AAP government for ignoring their demands. Tense situation prevailed at a few places after farmers and toll plaza employees entered into heated arguments.

    The influential Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) – which has presence in Majha and Doaba regions of the state besides some parts of Malwa region – had given a call to hold protests at 18 toll plazas for a month from December 15 to January 15. The reason: to press the state to accept their various demands, including a farm debt waiver, remunerative prices for crops and compensation for damage to crops.

    Toll-free travel will be ensured by the protesting farmers at Amritsar (Kathunagal, Mannawala and Chiddan near Attari), Tarn Taran (Usma and Mannan), Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Moga, Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts have been made toll free.

    KMSC general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “The government is pro-corporate and this is the reason why we have decided to make toll plazas free thus now any vehicle passing through the toll plazas will not pay any toll  till January 15.”

    Amarinder meets PM in Delhi, flags ‘poor’ law & order in PunjabFormer Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Parliament House Complex in Delhi, and flagged the law-and-order situation in Punjab terming it quite grim. He added that he has seen the movement of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and does not want those to be repeated. Referring to growing clout of Amritpal Singh and his supporters and terming that it was a matter of grave concern, Amarinder, who joined the saffron party in September said, “The incident of arson outside a Gurdwara in Jalandhar by supporters of Amritpal Singh is worrisome. He is fashioning himself after Bhindranwale. The situation is quite grim.”

    CHANDIGARH:  Farmers of Punjab on Thursday intensified their protest and assured commuters of toll-free travel at 18 plazas in 10 districts of the state against the AAP government for ignoring their demands. Tense situation prevailed at a few places after farmers and toll plaza employees entered into heated arguments.

    The influential Kisan Mazdoor Sangharsh Committee (KMSC) – which has presence in Majha and Doaba regions of the state besides some parts of Malwa region – had given a call to hold protests at 18 toll plazas for a month from December 15 to January 15. The reason: to press the state to accept their various demands, including a farm debt waiver, remunerative prices for crops and compensation for damage to crops.

    Toll-free travel will be ensured by the protesting farmers at Amritsar (Kathunagal, Mannawala and Chiddan near Attari), Tarn Taran (Usma and Mannan), Gurdaspur, Hoshiarpur, Pathankot, Ferozepur, Fazilka, Moga, Jalandhar and Kapurthala districts have been made toll free.

    KMSC general secretary Sarwan Singh Pandher said, “The government is pro-corporate and this is the reason why we have decided to make toll plazas free thus now any vehicle passing through the toll plazas will not pay any toll  till January 15.”

    Amarinder meets PM in Delhi, flags ‘poor’ law & order in Punjab
    Former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh on Thursday met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the Parliament House Complex in Delhi, and flagged the law-and-order situation in Punjab terming it quite grim. He added that he has seen the movement of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and does not want those to be repeated. Referring to growing clout of Amritpal Singh and his supporters and terming that it was a matter of grave concern, Amarinder, who joined the saffron party in September said, “The incident of arson outside a Gurdwara in Jalandhar by supporters of Amritpal Singh is worrisome. He is fashioning himself after Bhindranwale. The situation is quite grim.”

  • Illicit liquor menace: ‘Don’t dig well when house is on fire,’ SC tells Punjab government

    By Online Desk

    The Supreme Court on Thursday warned the government of Punjab to immediately adopt strict measures to address the large-scale manufacture and sale of illicit liquor in the state.

    “Do not dig the well when the house catches fire,” the Supreme Court reportedly observed.

    According to legal news portal Live Law, the state government told the bench, comprising Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar, that they had already taken steps in the right direction “because of this court’s indulgence.”

    “Have you seen Bihar today?” Justice Shah asked, referring to the Bihar hooch tragedy in Saran district that has claimed the lives of at 39 people, with the death toll still rising. “This is exactly what we want to avoid!” the judge exclaimed.

    The petitioner, Live Law report said, submitted before the court that the primary concern is that only low-level persons are being arrested. The people actually manufacturing and supplying the liquor are escaping the police scanner. 

    Even on earlier occasions, the court had slammed the Punjab government over this issue.

    The Supreme Court on Thursday warned the government of Punjab to immediately adopt strict measures to address the large-scale manufacture and sale of illicit liquor in the state.

    “Do not dig the well when the house catches fire,” the Supreme Court reportedly observed.

    According to legal news portal Live Law, the state government told the bench, comprising Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar, that they had already taken steps in the right direction “because of this court’s indulgence.”

    “Have you seen Bihar today?” Justice Shah asked, referring to the Bihar hooch tragedy in Saran district that has claimed the lives of at 39 people, with the death toll still rising. “This is exactly what we want to avoid!” the judge exclaimed.

    The petitioner, Live Law report said, submitted before the court that the primary concern is that only low-level persons are being arrested. The people actually manufacturing and supplying the liquor are escaping the police scanner. 

    Even on earlier occasions, the court had slammed the Punjab government over this issue.

  • AAP appoints Sandeep Pathak as national general secretary 

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The AAP has appointed its senior leader and Rajya Sabha member Sandeep Pathak as national general secretary (organisation), after it recently became eligible for national party status.

    Pathak was the party’s election in-charge for Punjab as well as for Gujarat, where assembly polls were held this month.

    In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) wrested the state from the Congress in polls held in March.

    Though the Arvind Kejriwal-headed AAP had won only five of the 182 seats in the Gujarat polls, it got a nearly 13 per cent vote share.

    On the party’s performance, Kejriwal had said that the AAP has not won many seats but the votes the party got helped it attain national party status.

    “The party hereby appoints Shri @SandeepPathak04 as the Rashtriya Sangathan Mahamantri (National General Secretary Organisation). He will also be a Permanent Invitee to the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of AAP. Congratulations on your new role!” the party tweeted from its official handle.

    MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENTThe party hereby appoints Shri @SandeepPathak04 as the Rashtriya Sangathan Mahamantri (National General Secretary Organisation).He will also be a Permanent Invitee to the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of AAP.Congratulations on your new role! pic.twitter.com/Zy0FIQoRXT
    — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) December 13, 2022
    Sources in the AAP also said the appointment has been made eyeing the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    Quoting provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, a former Election Commission official had said that a party needs State Party status in four states to automatically become a national party.

    The AAP is already a recognised state party in Delhi, Goa and Punjab. It is in power in Delhi and Punjab. A party needs eight per cent of votes in a state to get State Party status, he had said.

    NEW DELHI: The AAP has appointed its senior leader and Rajya Sabha member Sandeep Pathak as national general secretary (organisation), after it recently became eligible for national party status.

    Pathak was the party’s election in-charge for Punjab as well as for Gujarat, where assembly polls were held this month.

    In Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) wrested the state from the Congress in polls held in March.

    Though the Arvind Kejriwal-headed AAP had won only five of the 182 seats in the Gujarat polls, it got a nearly 13 per cent vote share.

    On the party’s performance, Kejriwal had said that the AAP has not won many seats but the votes the party got helped it attain national party status.

    “The party hereby appoints Shri @SandeepPathak04 as the Rashtriya Sangathan Mahamantri (National General Secretary Organisation). He will also be a Permanent Invitee to the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of AAP. Congratulations on your new role!” the party tweeted from its official handle.

    MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT
    The party hereby appoints Shri @SandeepPathak04 as the Rashtriya Sangathan Mahamantri (National General Secretary Organisation).
    He will also be a Permanent Invitee to the Political Affairs Committee (PAC) of AAP.
    Congratulations on your new role! pic.twitter.com/Zy0FIQoRXT
    — AAP (@AamAadmiParty) December 13, 2022
    Sources in the AAP also said the appointment has been made eyeing the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

    Quoting provisions of the Election Symbols (Reservation and Allotment) Order, a former Election Commission official had said that a party needs State Party status in four states to automatically become a national party.

    The AAP is already a recognised state party in Delhi, Goa and Punjab. It is in power in Delhi and Punjab. A party needs eight per cent of votes in a state to get State Party status, he had said.

  • Man accused of stealing wheat bags tied to moving truck’s bonnet in Punjab’s Muktsar

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: A man in Punjab’s Muktsar district who was accused of stealing two bags of wheat from a truck was taken to police station tied to the truck’s bonnet as a punishment.

    A video of the incident went viral on social media on Sunday. In the video, the man was seen tied with a rope while a helper of the truck driver was sitting beside him.

    The helper could be heard telling another unidentified person that the tied man had stolen two bags of wheat and he was being taken to the Bus Stand Police Station.

    Meanwhile, police in Muktsar said they have received two videos related to the incident.

    In one video, the man was seen stealing wheat bags from the truck, and in another video, the same man was tied to the bonnet of the truck, purportedly being taken to the police station. A police officer from Muktsar said action will be taken as per law.

    CHANDIGARH: A man in Punjab’s Muktsar district who was accused of stealing two bags of wheat from a truck was taken to police station tied to the truck’s bonnet as a punishment.

    A video of the incident went viral on social media on Sunday. In the video, the man was seen tied with a rope while a helper of the truck driver was sitting beside him.

    The helper could be heard telling another unidentified person that the tied man had stolen two bags of wheat and he was being taken to the Bus Stand Police Station.

    Meanwhile, police in Muktsar said they have received two videos related to the incident.

    In one video, the man was seen stealing wheat bags from the truck, and in another video, the same man was tied to the bonnet of the truck, purportedly being taken to the police station. A police officer from Muktsar said action will be taken as per law.

  • Earthquake of 4.1 magnitude hits Amritsar days after tremors were felt in Delhi

    By ANI

    AMRITSAR: An earthquake of 4.1 magnitude was felt across Punjab’s Amritsar on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, informed National Center for Seismology (NCS).

    The tremors were felt at around 3:42 AM.

    The National Center for Seismology (NCS) said, “Earthquake of Magnitude: 4.1, Occurred on 14-11-2022, 03:42:27 IST, Lat: 31.95 & Long: 73.38, Depth: 120 Km, Location: 145km WNW of Amritsar, Punjab.”

    Earlier on Saturday evening, an earthquake rocked Delhi-NCR. The tremors were felt at around 8 pm.

    The National Center for Seismology (NCS) said an earthquake of magnitude 5.4 occurred in Nepal, at around 7:57 pm on Saturday. “The depth of the earthquake was 10 km below the ground,” it had said.

    AMRITSAR: An earthquake of 4.1 magnitude was felt across Punjab’s Amritsar on the intervening night of Sunday and Monday, informed National Center for Seismology (NCS).

    The tremors were felt at around 3:42 AM.

    The National Center for Seismology (NCS) said, “Earthquake of Magnitude: 4.1, Occurred on 14-11-2022, 03:42:27 IST, Lat: 31.95 & Long: 73.38, Depth: 120 Km, Location: 145km WNW of Amritsar, Punjab.”

    Earlier on Saturday evening, an earthquake rocked Delhi-NCR. The tremors were felt at around 8 pm.

    The National Center for Seismology (NCS) said an earthquake of magnitude 5.4 occurred in Nepal, at around 7:57 pm on Saturday. “The depth of the earthquake was 10 km below the ground,” it had said.

  • Former CM Amarinder Singh warns of return of dark days of 1980s in Punjab

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH:  Former chief minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday warned against the return of the dark era of the 1980s in Punjab, saying “the way things are unfolding in the state today is quite worrisome” and cautioned the AAP government against any “laxity”.

    He also condemned the “complete failure” on the part of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state, claiming that it has not taken any action so far even after 24 hours following the murder of the Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri in Amritsar on Friday.

    Suri (58) was shot dead in broad daylight while taking part in a protest. He was protesting against the management of Gopal Mandir on Majitha Road — one of the busiest places in the city — after some broken idols of Hindu deities were allegedly found on the roadside, which he termed an act of sacrilege.

    The BJP leader said he was more concerned because the AAP government had “neither shown any inclination nor any capability” to handle such an alarming situation.

    “Once you let your weakness and shortcomings known, anti-national forces are bound to take advantage of that and that is what is precisely happening in Punjab now,” he said.

    “I am reminded of 1980s when the situation started drifting and deteriorating into terrorism and we had to pay such a huge price,” Singh warned while cautioning the AAP government against any laxity and inaction.

    “What to speak of taking any action, nobody from the AAP has even condemned the brutal murder of the Shiv Sena leader so far,” he said in a statement.

    Singh expressed shock as to how could someone who was under high security be shot dead in full public view with so many policemen around.

    “What action has the government taken,” he asked while warning against letting people being killed like that and letting those responsible go scot-free.

    The senior BJP leader criticized the AAP government for providing a free run to the radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who has been openly preaching and propagating violence and speaking the language of secession and separatism.

    “How can you (AAP government) let someone like him go scot-free when he has been openly speaking against the unity and integrity of the country and openly calling youth to take weapons,” he said.

    “This is criminal negligence on part of the AAP government as it has repeatedly failed in tackling serious incidents of crime,” Singh alleged. He pointed out that gangsters were also “having a free run as they were killing people like international sports stars and singers at their sweet will.”

    He also expressed strong apprehensions that the forces inimical to the interests of the country and state may soon form a nexus between gangsters and terrorists. “I am not sure whether they have already done it and if they do it, it will be a very dangerous situation to tackle,” he warned the government while advising it “to nip the evil in the bud.”READ: Punjab Court sends Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader’s murder accused to 7-day police remand 

    CHANDIGARH:  Former chief minister Amarinder Singh on Saturday warned against the return of the dark era of the 1980s in Punjab, saying “the way things are unfolding in the state today is quite worrisome” and cautioned the AAP government against any “laxity”.

    He also condemned the “complete failure” on the part of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in the state, claiming that it has not taken any action so far even after 24 hours following the murder of the Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader Sudhir Suri in Amritsar on Friday.

    Suri (58) was shot dead in broad daylight while taking part in a protest. He was protesting against the management of Gopal Mandir on Majitha Road — one of the busiest places in the city — after some broken idols of Hindu deities were allegedly found on the roadside, which he termed an act of sacrilege.

    The BJP leader said he was more concerned because the AAP government had “neither shown any inclination nor any capability” to handle such an alarming situation.

    “Once you let your weakness and shortcomings known, anti-national forces are bound to take advantage of that and that is what is precisely happening in Punjab now,” he said.

    “I am reminded of 1980s when the situation started drifting and deteriorating into terrorism and we had to pay such a huge price,” Singh warned while cautioning the AAP government against any laxity and inaction.

    “What to speak of taking any action, nobody from the AAP has even condemned the brutal murder of the Shiv Sena leader so far,” he said in a statement.

    Singh expressed shock as to how could someone who was under high security be shot dead in full public view with so many policemen around.

    “What action has the government taken,” he asked while warning against letting people being killed like that and letting those responsible go scot-free.

    The senior BJP leader criticized the AAP government for providing a free run to the radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who has been openly preaching and propagating violence and speaking the language of secession and separatism.

    “How can you (AAP government) let someone like him go scot-free when he has been openly speaking against the unity and integrity of the country and openly calling youth to take weapons,” he said.

    “This is criminal negligence on part of the AAP government as it has repeatedly failed in tackling serious incidents of crime,” Singh alleged. He pointed out that gangsters were also “having a free run as they were killing people like international sports stars and singers at their sweet will.”

    He also expressed strong apprehensions that the forces inimical to the interests of the country and state may soon form a nexus between gangsters and terrorists. “I am not sure whether they have already done it and if they do it, it will be a very dangerous situation to tackle,” he warned the government while advising it “to nip the evil in the bud.”READ: Punjab Court sends Shiv Sena (Taksali) leader’s murder accused to 7-day police remand 

  • Many places in Punjab, Haryana report ‘poor’ to ‘very poor’ air quality

    By PTI

    CHANDIGARH: After Diwali, several parts of Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday morning recorded air quality in the ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ categories.

    Gurugram in Haryana and Ludhiana in Punjab reported their respective air quality index (AQI) at 313 and 269 at 10:10 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) data.

    Among other districts, Faridabad, Charkhi Dadri, Bhiwani, Ambala, Bahadurgarh, Sonipat, Jind, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, and Panipat reported their AQI at 311, 301, 291, 241, 279, 214, 296, 211, 276 and 192 respectively.

    In Punjab, Amritsar, Mandi Gobindgarh, Patiala, Jalandhar and Khanna the AQI was recorded at 249, 208, 225, 260 and 212 respectively — all in the ‘poor’ category.

    An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

    The AQI in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the joint capital of the two states, was recorded at 178.

    The Punjab government had allowed a window of two hours from 8 pm till 10 pm for bursting firecrackers on Diwali while the Haryana government had allowed only green crackers in the state.

    Farm fires also continued at many places in Punjab and Haryana.

    Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November.

    As the window for Rabi crop wheat is very short after paddy harvest, farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue.

    CHANDIGARH: After Diwali, several parts of Punjab and Haryana on Tuesday morning recorded air quality in the ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ categories.

    Gurugram in Haryana and Ludhiana in Punjab reported their respective air quality index (AQI) at 313 and 269 at 10:10 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) data.

    Among other districts, Faridabad, Charkhi Dadri, Bhiwani, Ambala, Bahadurgarh, Sonipat, Jind, Yamunanagar, Kurukshetra, and Panipat reported their AQI at 311, 301, 291, 241, 279, 214, 296, 211, 276 and 192 respectively.

    In Punjab, Amritsar, Mandi Gobindgarh, Patiala, Jalandhar and Khanna the AQI was recorded at 249, 208, 225, 260 and 212 respectively — all in the ‘poor’ category.

    An AQI between zero and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 and 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 and 200 ‘moderate’, 201 and 300 ‘poor’, 301 and 400 ‘very poor’, and 401 and 500 ‘severe’.

    The AQI in the Union Territory of Chandigarh, the joint capital of the two states, was recorded at 178.

    The Punjab government had allowed a window of two hours from 8 pm till 10 pm for bursting firecrackers on Diwali while the Haryana government had allowed only green crackers in the state.

    Farm fires also continued at many places in Punjab and Haryana.

    Paddy straw burning in Punjab and Haryana is one of the reasons behind the alarming spike in air pollution levels in the national capital in October and November.

    As the window for Rabi crop wheat is very short after paddy harvest, farmers set their fields on fire to quickly clear off the crop residue.