Delhi Looks To Skies As Farm Fires Set To Peak

Met Factors May Play Important Role With Stubble Burning Likely To Stay High From Oct 29 To Nov 15

- Priyangi Agarwal

Brace for polluted days. The share of stubble burning emissions in Delhi's PM2.5 (micro, respirable particles) component will be its peak in the days between October 29 and November 15, according to the Union earth sciences forecasting body, System of Air Quality and Weather Forecasting and Research (SAFAR).

Though Punjab recorded the season's highest fire count on Wednesday with 1,238 farm fires, the contribution of stubble burning is predicted to be only 5-6% due to wind that is blowing in a direction away from Delhi. SAFAR said that a high fire count did not necessarily mean stubble burning would have a major role in Delhi's air quality. He said there were meteorological factors at play too.