Regular maintenance of electrical infra
When cities lose their trees, they begin to lose their breath. The rising number of fires and extreme heat in Jalandhar is not just a natural phenomenon but a result of rapid, unplanned urbanisation. The continuous loss of tree cover has reduced the city’s natural cooling system, making summers harsher and increasing the risk of fires. Construction, concretisation and neglect of green spaces have worsened the situation. To address this, authorities must prioritise afforestation, protect existing green belts and enforce strict urban planning rules. Regular maintenance of electrical infrastructure is also essential to prevent fire outbreaks. At the citizen level, reducing electricity overuse, avoiding waste burning and planting trees can make a meaningful difference. Development should not come at the cost of environmental sustainability. A balanced approach—where growth and ecology go hand in hand—is the only way to make the city liveable again and prevent further ecological damage.
Vipanpreet Kaur
Adopt long-term, sustainable solutions
As temperature continues to soar with the advancing summer, the risk of fire incidents is rising alarmingly. In an effort to cope with the intense heat, people are increasingly relying on electrical appliances, leading to a sharp surge in power consumption, which is expected to peak by the end of the month. This heightened usage significantly raises the likelihood of overheating, short-circuiting and consequent fire outbreaks. Recent back-to-back fire incidents in Jalandhar serve as a stark reminder of this growing threat. Similar fire cases have been reported at other nearby places too, primarily caused by sparks from short circuiting, dangling electric wires and the overloading of transformers. With temperatures set to climb further, the situation may become even more precarious. Compounding the heat problem is the rapid decline in green cover due to reckless urbanisation and unplanned development. The shrinking ecological buffer has made cities increasingly vulnerable to extreme heat, rendering them progressively less habitable during peak summer months. Equally grievous issue is the poor maintenance of electrical infrastructure. In many areas, cables remain loosely fastened and inadequately insulated, posing serious risks of electrocution and fire. The chaotic network of overhead wires, coupled with haphazardly installed electricity poles and unregulated telecom cables, not only mars the urban landscape but also endangers human lives. Instances of severe burn injuries and fatalities due to contact with exposed high-tension wires are not uncommon, yet sustained corrective action remains lacking. Each year, such incidents claim precious lives and cause significant property damage. It is therefore imperative to adopt long-term, sustainable solutions. Authorities must strictly enforce safety norms and ensure that service providers adhere to established standards. In densely populated areas with narrow lanes, a phased transition to underground cabling and fibre-optic networks should be prioritised to eliminate the hazards posed by overhead wires. At the same time, citizens must exercise caution by using certified electrical equipment and avoiding excessive load beyond permitted limits. Earnest efforts need be made to preserve and expand green cover, ensuring that environmental balance is maintained. Addressing this issue requires a coordinated approach, combining infrastructure reform, regulatory enforcement and public awareness. Acting prudently on these lines, we can effectively mitigate the recurring threat of fire incidents during extreme heat conditions.
Nirmaljit Singh Chatrath
Large-scale plantation drives needed
The rising temperatures and recurring fire incidents across Jalandhar are alarming reminders of the environmental imbalance caused by rapid urbanisation and shrinking green cover. In recent years, large numbers of trees have disappeared due to expanding roads, commercial activities and growing residential development, making the city increasingly vulnerable to extreme heat. Concrete structures and reducing open spaces have intensified the heat effect, making summers harsher and daily life more uncomfortable. Equally concerning is the careless burning of dry waste and vegetation during peak summer, which further increases fire hazards and air pollution. Development is essential for progress, but it must go hand in hand with environmental protection. The administration should encourage large-scale plantation drives, preservation of existing trees, creation of green belts and stricter monitoring against unnecessary tree cutting and waste burning. Public awareness and citizen participation are equally important to make Jalandhar greener, safer and more liveable for future generations.
JP Singh
Plant one sapling every year
When infrastructure development is at its peak and metropolitan city areas are expanding rapidly, the decline of agricultural land and the felling of trees cannot be ignored. Trees, green belts and parks are crucial for maintaining ecological balance despite environmental pollution. Due to global warming and climate change, countries worldwide are facing problems such as excess rainfall, snow and floods. Even in the Middle East, some countries are witnessing rainfall. Environmental scientists have predicted a further rise in temperatures in the coming years, which could lead to scorching heat and rising mercury levels. Although people are aware of the importance of green belts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has appealed to citizens to plant one sapling every year. Last year, the campaign “Ek pade maa ke naam” was launched, which was widely praised. Similarly, children should plant a fruit sapling every year on their birthdays, which could become a successful long-term measure to preserve ecological balance and keep the environment pollution-free. The increasing number of air conditioners in homes, vehicles and train coaches also contributes to rising temperatures, as heat exhausted from these units adds to local mercury levels during noon. In the past, people used to rest under the shade of trees from noon to evening when air conditioners were not common. Even pre-independence trains like the Frontier Mail, running from Peshawar to Mumbai, had air-conditioned coaches cooled using ice slabs and fans, which converted hot air into cold. During periods of rising mercury, people often move to hilly areas to enjoy cooler climates, leading to a surge in hotel fares and essential commodity prices. This highlights the urgent need for a sustained drive to plant new saplings every year, celebrating it as a festival. Citizens must take plantation drives seriously and actively participate in planting new trees to ensure long-term ecological balance.
Rajat Kumar Mohindru
Create eco-friendly urban shelters
Summer heat, once a relief from the shivering winter is now a method of countless terror and dreadful incidences including summer fires and loss of the green belt. Many trees engulfed in fire and temperatures seem to rise like there is no tomorrow. The government needs to make sure the people are protected and so is the environment for the upcoming months. Some steps the administration can take are, creating eco-friendly cooling shelters for the pedestrians; replenishing the eco belt through more and more trees and maintaining the current ones. Additionally, covering the sky view at places with repeated exposure to direct sunlight to cool it off using a silk/cotton cover to maintain the cool temperature. These steps will be the best to cater the rising temperature and make Punjab a safe place for the trees and its citizens.
Lakshit Jindal
Integrate trees in development plans
The adverse effects of climate change are now more visible and deadly than ever before and it should awaken our administration and the people as a final warning to check its deterioration further on war footing basis. Not even a single tree is now required to be cut in the name of development or rebuilding. New projects which are essential for socio-economic upliftment of the people should be undertaken with an architectural planning in such a way that existing trees are made an integral part of wider layout and even can be used to add beauty and green cover to the project. Besides it, no fresh proposal of development of any type should be sanctioned without adding green cover through sustainable plantation in its vicinity. In all local government institutions and city peripherals more trees are required to be planted and taken care of urgently. More green belts are required to be developed in the city. The people should be encouraged to plant trees in their vacant lands, plots and residential and commercial establishments through providing suitable assistance and even subsidised services to them.
Jagdish Chander
Conduct ward-wise tree audits
Jalandhar’s rising temperatures and recurring fires are no longer isolated summer incidents but signs of a deeper urban planning crisis. In the race for rapid construction, the city has steadily lost green cover, open fields and water bodies that once helped regulate local temperatures. Every new road, commercial complex or colony is reducing permeable land and increasing heat retention. The administration must now treat urban greenery as essential infrastructure, not decoration. A ward wise tree audit should be conducted and compensatory plantation must happen in the same locality where trees are cut. Native shade giving trees should be planted along roads, schools and canals while vacant government land can be converted into mini urban forests. Strict monitoring of stubble and garbage burning is also needed. Development cannot be called progress if residents are left struggling with extreme heat, smoke and deteriorating air quality every summer.
Navneet Kaur
City needs heat resilient planning
The growing number of fire incidents in early May reflects how climate stress and poor civic preparedness are making Jalandhar increasingly difficult to live in during summers. Besides rising temperatures, unchecked concretisation has worsened the “urban heat island” effect where dense built up areas trap heat through the day and night. The city urgently needs heat resilient planning instead of short term cosmetic projects. Authorities should make rooftop solar panels, rainwater harvesting and cool roofing mandatory in new buildings to reduce heat absorption and pressure on power supply. Public spaces such as parks and roadside green belts should be protected from encroachment rather than sacrificed for parking or widening projects.
Anamika
Politicians must treat this as an emergency
Scientists and researchers worldwide are warning of a potential 2°C rise in global temperatures. Amid this climate emergency, while most countries are racing to protect and expand their tree cover, India—including Punjab—is moving in the opposite direction, with large-scale tree cutting continuing unchecked. This has contributed to a sharp rise in fire incidents. Unless urgent measures are taken to restore and increase the region’s tree cover, Punjab risks severe drought and depletion of water reserves. Politicians must treat this as an emergency and work together to find solutions to revive lost forests and protect the region’s ecology.
Iqbal Singh
Protect trees, biodiversity
It is alarming to witness fires breaking out across the region as early as April. Over a dozen incidents have already been reported, and fields are experiencing a higher frequency of fires both during and after the harvest season. The scarcity of forests, even in rural areas, has reduced atmospheric moisture, heightening the risk of severe heat and dryness in peak summer. Protecting trees, biodiversity, and the environment must be prioritised to ensure a safe and sustainable future for the people of Punjab.
Samita Prakash