Punjab recorded 440 fresh stubble-burning cases in 24 hours, pushing the cumulative count to 2,787 since September 15, per CAQM data. Sangrur, Bathinda, and Patiala led daily incidents, all in the Malwa belt. The total is now just 146 short of last year's figure. FIRs stand at 710; only ₹24.85 lakh of ₹46.10 lakh compensation has been recovered.