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As Tuesday dawned inhabitants of the world's most polluted city were faced with exposed to dangerously toxic air that registered in the "alarming" range.

Record-Breaking Air Quality Levels

Several parts of Delhi showed an AQI exceeding 500, which equals 10x the safe threshold established by the WHO.

In some locations, readings of toxic particulate matter hit highs of 1800, equating to fifteen to twenty times exceeding acceptable levels.

Firecracker Restrictions and Recent Policy Shifts

For the past four years, officials had maintained a comprehensive restriction on the purchase and ignition of pyrotechnics during Diwali due to their substantial impact to the deadly pollution that engulfs the metropolis as the cold season sets in.

Nevertheless in recent months, the newly elected local leadership approached the judicial authority to seek a modification of the restrictions.

They proposed allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – previously questioned by environmentalists as being only approximately one-third less polluting – as a middle ground between "heritage and public health".

Judicial Decision and Enforcement

Despite concerns of public health and environmental activists, the court agreed to the appeal, specifying that environmentally conscious fireworks could be used during specific periods throughout the Diwali.

During the celebrations, there was extensive flouting of the designated hours across the capital, with minimal monitoring regarding whether the fireworks being used were actually the eco-friendly version.

Several recording stations throughout the city showed contamination reaching highest levels around late evening to extremely hazardous readings recorded during the festival in at least the past three years.

Cross-Border Effects

The widespread use of fireworks during the festival also triggered a dispute with bordering Pakistan, with officials in Pakistani the Punjab region pointing to worsening atmospheric conditions in their urban centers on contaminants traveling from India following the celebrations.

Persistent Environmental Problem

Extremely elevated concentrations of atmospheric toxins in the capital have persisted as a serious problem for over a decade and a half, with the condition gradually deteriorating.

During Diwali, the amount of hazardous particles in the air has been documented to shoot up to 70% higher the most severe readings ever documented in China's capital, which was previously considered as the world's most polluted urban center.

Various Contamination Sources

This crisis in the city is resulting from a convergence of different contributors including transportation pollution, construction debris, development work, garbage fires and smoke from agricultural fires in adjacent states of neighboring agricultural zones.

Throughout these areas, farmers routinely ignite agricultural waste to expedite field preparation, creating dangerous smog that becomes contained over the city as cooler air descends.

Public Health and Economic Impact

Both financial and medical impact on the nearly 33 million inhabitants living in the metropolitan zone is significant, according to various research.

The contaminated air results in elevated rates of neurological, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and can result in malignancies.

The pollution is estimated to be responsible for ten thousand premature deaths per year in Delhi.