In the Indian state of Punjab, farmers continue the controversial practice of burning rice fields after harvest, significantly impacting air quality in nearby New Delhi. This method, employed by thousands, is used to quickly clear land for the next sowing cycle.
Fatehbir Singh Sidhu, a local farmer, described the situation, noting that the smoke often fills homes, forcing residents to keep windows shut. The pollution from this agricultural activity is so severe that it can be detected from space, with effects felt as far as the urban areas surrounding the capital.