Haryana has recorded a significant increase in farm fire incidents during the current wheat harvesting season in comparison to the last year. The number of cases this year has nearly doubled compared to 2025, when the state had reported 1,745 incidents. The increase of 1,610 cases marks an almost 92 per cent jump in just one year, raising concerns over environmental pollution and enforcement of curbing stubble burning regulations.
When compared to previous years, the present year data reflects the highest number in the past five years. Haryana had witnessed 3077 farm fire cases in 2024, 1887 in 2023, and 2872 incidents in 2022.
With 492 cases, Jind is leading the state till May 19, followed by Rohtak (429), Jhajjar (324), Sonepat (306), Kaithal (276), Fatehabad (255), Sirsa (254), Karnal (198), Panipat (172), Hansi (146), Hisar (90), Bhiwani (89), Kurukshetra (77), Ambala (85), Palwal (43), Faridabad (26), Charkhi Dadri (25), Gurugram (25), Yamunanagar (19), Nuh (13), Panchkula (6), and Rewari (5).
A study of the previous year data revealed that till this date, Fatehabad was leading the tally with 215 cases, followed by Sonepat (205), and Jind (171).
Officials believe that a majority of the farm fire incidents were accidental and caused by short circuits. However, they admitted that in some cases, farmers deliberately set stubble on fire, which later spread rapidly to nearby fields due to strong hot winds and dry weather conditions.
The department got FIRs registered against such farmers, and imposed fines too, said a senior official of the Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Department. Besides, he said, district, block and village level committees have been constituted to spread awareness among farmers to utilise the stubble for livestock fodder or other purpose, instead of burning them. “The wheat stubble is mainly utilised in livestock fodder. I do not burn stubble, but to use it as fodder,” said Rajinder, a farmer.
In Karnal district, as many as 14 FIRs had been registered against violating farmers, while a penalty of Rs 70,000 had been imposed on them, said Dr Wazir Singh, Deputy Director Agriculture (DDA), Karnal.
“Throughout the season, our team members remain in the field to educate farmers not to burn stubble,” he added.
