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As Tuesday dawned citizens of the world's most polluted city encountered inhaling dangerously toxic air that was classified as the "severe" category.

Record-Breaking Pollution Levels

Various sections of Delhi registered an AQI exceeding 500, which represents 10x the healthy threshold set by the WHO.

Particular areas, levels of toxic particulate matter soared to of 1800, equating to 15-20x exceeding acceptable levels.

Fireworks Ban and New Changes

Since 2020, authorities had maintained a total prohibition on the purchase and ignition of firecrackers during celebrations due to their major role to the hazardous haze that covers the metropolis as the cold season begins.

However earlier this year, the current city government appealed to the judicial authority to request a modification of the prohibition.

Officials advocated for allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – historically criticized by conservation groups as being only about 30% reduced emissions – as a compromise between "tradition and environment".

Judicial Ruling and Enforcement

Much to the frustration of medical and ecological advocates, judicial authorities complied with the request, specifying that green firecrackers could be ignited during designated hours throughout the Diwali.

During the celebrations, there was considerable violation of the time restrictions across the city, with minimal monitoring regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the supposedly greener variety.

Numerous air quality sensors throughout the capital registered pollution spiking around midnight to some of the worst readings observed during the festival in at least the past three years.

Regional Implications

The widespread use of pyrotechnics during the celebrations also initiated a blame game with bordering Pakistan, with officials in Pakistani Punjab partly blaming declining pollution levels in their urban centers on pollutants traveling from India following the celebrations.

Long-Standing Pollution Crisis

Extremely elevated readings of pollution in the capital have continued as a major challenge for over a decade and a half, with the situation gradually deteriorating.

During the festival period, the amount of toxic particulate matter in the atmosphere has been found to spike to 70% higher the most severe readings ever measured in the Chinese city, which was formerly viewed as the world's most polluted city.

Multiple Contamination Sources

The problem in the city is attributed to a convergence of multiple factors including transportation pollution, airborne particles, development work, garbage fires and pollutants from farm burning in nearby states of neighboring agricultural zones.

Throughout these areas, rural residents routinely set their fields on fire to expedite field preparation, creating toxic haze that then gets trapped over the city as cooler air descends.

Health and Economic Impact

Public health and economic toll on the approximately 33 million people living in the Delhi area is enormous, according to multiple investigations.

The contaminated air causes elevated rates of neurological, heart and circulatory and lung conditions, and can result in oncological diseases.

The pollution is calculated to be accounting for approximately 10k premature deaths each year in the capital.