Bathinda: Madhya Pradesh is fast emerging as the second-largest contributor to stubble-burning cases after Punjab, overtaking Uttar Pradesh. Of the 38 farm-fire incidents reported across five states on Friday, MP accounted for 20. Punjab, however, continued to top the chart overall with 72 of the 175 cases reported so far, though its share dropped to 41%. Authorities have begun penal action, including an FIR, environmental compensation and red entries in land records.


