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On Tuesday morning inhabitants of the planet's dirtiest urban center found themselves breathing extremely polluted air that was classified as the "severe" range.

Alarming Pollution Levels

Several parts of the capital recorded an air quality index over 500, which translates to a tenfold increase over the safe threshold recommended by the WHO.

Certain monitoring stations, levels of PM2.5 and PM10 hit highs of 1800, representing 15 to 20 times exceeding healthy limits.

Fireworks Ban and Recent Policy Shifts

Beginning in 2020, officials had enforced a total prohibition on the sale and use of firecrackers during celebrations due to their substantial impact to the dangerous pollution that engulfs the metropolis as colder weather approaches.

Nevertheless in recent months, the current local leadership appealed to the highest court to propose a modification of the ban.

Officials advocated for allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – historically doubted by environmental experts as being only roughly 30 percent less polluting – as a compromise between "heritage and public health".

Court Ruling and Implementation

To the disappointment of public health and environmental advocates, the court approved the appeal, specifying that eco-friendly pyrotechnics could be set off during specific periods throughout the festival.

Throughout the festival evening, there was widespread flouting of the regulated periods across the metropolis, with insufficient monitoring regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the eco-friendly variety.

Numerous monitoring devices throughout Delhi recorded pollution reaching highest levels around midnight to some of the worst levels observed during celebrations in at least three years.

Cross-Border Effects

The proliferation of pyrotechnics during Diwali also sparked a dispute with bordering Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistani Punjab pointing to worsening atmospheric conditions in the city of Lahore on contaminants originating in across the border following the events.

Chronic Pollution Problem

The dangerously high levels of air contamination in the city have continued as a major challenge for over a decade and a half, with the problem showing no improvement.

During the festival period, the amount of dangerous particulate matter in the atmosphere has been documented to shoot up to 70% higher the worst readings ever documented in China's capital, which was formerly considered as the globally most contaminated metropolis.

Multiple Contamination Sources

The problem in the city is caused by a combination of various sources including transportation pollution, dust, development work, waste incineration and haze from agricultural fires in adjacent regions of neighboring agricultural zones.

Within these states, farmers illegally burn crop residue to clear them quickly, producing dangerous haze that remains stagnant over the capital as colder air sets in.

Public Health and Economic Toll

Both financial and medical impact on the nearly 33 million people residing in the Delhi area is enormous, according to numerous studies.

This pollution leads to increased incidence of nervous system, cardiovascular and breathing diseases, and can potentially cause cancer.

The pollution is projected to be causing 10,000 early fatalities annually in Delhi.