In Ludhiana district, Punjab, farm fire incidents surged dramatically from 21 cases at the end of April to 546 by May 13, according to the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB). This alarming rise of over 500 incidents in just two weeks brings the total close to last year's nearly 600 cases. The district's administration has responded by making 66 red entries against violators and registering one FIR under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Gurdeep Singh, the chief agriculture officer, noted that farm fire incidents typically continue until mid-May, with the highest occurrences in the Raikot, Payal, and Jagraon regions. Despite ongoing awareness efforts, including camps and a special awareness van, the number of cases remains concerning. Inspections have confirmed crop burning at 233 locations out of 415 inspected fields, with environmental compensation of ₹4.35 lakh imposed in 82 cases. The trend is not isolated to Ludhiana; other districts like Ferozepur, Tarn Taran, and Bathinda also report significant increases in farm fire incidents, highlighting a broader issue in Punjab.