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Tuesday brought citizens of the world's most polluted city were faced with exposed to severely hazardous air that registered in the "severe" range.

Alarming Pollution Measurements

Several parts of the city recorded an air quality index over 500, which translates to ten times the healthy limit recommended by the global health authority.

Particular areas, readings of toxic particulate matter reached peaks of 1,800, representing 15-20x above acceptable levels.

Pyrotechnics Ban and New Developments

For the past four years, officials had implemented a complete ban on the distribution and bursting of fireworks during Diwali due to their significant contribution to the hazardous haze that blankets the capital as winter approaches.

Nevertheless earlier this year, the current regional administration appealed to the highest court to request a modification of the prohibition.

Officials advocated for allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – which have been doubted by environmentalists as being only approximately one-third less polluting – as a balance between "heritage and environment".

Legal Ruling and Reality

Much to the frustration of public health and environmental activists, judicial authorities complied with the appeal, stipulating that green firecrackers could be ignited during designated periods throughout the celebrations.

During the celebrations, there was extensive flouting of the time restrictions across the capital, with insufficient regulation regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the supposedly greener version.

Many recording stations throughout Delhi showed contamination spiking around late evening to extremely hazardous readings observed during Diwali in at least three years.

International Consequences

Extensive ignition of fireworks during Diwali also sparked a dispute with adjacent Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistani the Punjab region partially attributing deteriorating air quality in Lahore on hazardous particles traveling from neighboring India following the events.

Chronic Pollution Problem

Extremely elevated concentrations of air contamination in the capital have remained as a major challenge for over a decade and a half, with the condition gradually deteriorating.

During the festival period, the concentration of toxic airborne contaminants in the atmosphere has been observed to shoot up to 70% higher the peak levels ever recorded in the Chinese city, which was formerly regarded as the globally most contaminated metropolis.

Multiple Contamination Factors

The problem in Delhi is attributed to a mix of various sources including transportation pollution, dust, construction activities, waste incineration and smoke from agricultural fires in neighbouring states of farming communities.

Throughout these areas, agricultural workers regularly ignite agricultural waste to expedite field preparation, producing toxic pollution that becomes contained over the metropolitan area as winter air sets in.

Public Health and Financial Impact

Both financial and medical impact on the nearly 33 million people living in the capital region is substantial, according to multiple research.

This pollution results in increased incidence of neurological, cardiovascular and lung conditions, and can result in cancer.

The pollution is projected to be causing 10,000 premature fatalities each year in Delhi.