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As Tuesday dawned residents of this heavily contaminated metropolis found themselves breathing dangerously toxic air that was classified as the "alarming" category.

Record-Breaking Pollution Readings

Multiple areas of Delhi registered an pollution measurement exceeding 500, which represents ten times the healthy level set by the global health authority.

Particular areas, levels of PM2.5 and PM10 hit highs of 1800, amounting to 15-20x higher than safe standards.

Firecracker Prohibition and New Changes

Beginning in 2020, the government had enforced a total prohibition on the purchase and ignition of fireworks during the Festival of Lights due to their significant contribution to the hazardous pollution that blankets the metropolis as winter approaches.

Yet earlier this year, the recently formed city administration appealed to the supreme court to request a modification of the ban.

The suggestion was allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – historically doubted by environmental experts as being only about 30% reduced emissions – as a balance between "cultural practices and environment".

Judicial Ruling and Enforcement

To the disappointment of public health and environmental campaigners, judicial authorities complied with the proposal, stipulating that environmentally conscious fireworks could be set off during designated periods throughout the festival.

Throughout the festival evening, there was extensive violation of the time restrictions across the capital, with little monitoring regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the eco-friendly variety.

Numerous recording stations throughout Delhi registered air quality peaking around the night hours to extremely hazardous levels recorded during celebrations in at least recent memory.

Regional Implications

Extensive ignition of pyrotechnics during Diwali also triggered a controversy with neighbouring Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistani Punjab pointing to deteriorating atmospheric conditions in the city of Lahore on contaminants traveling from neighboring India following the celebrations.

Chronic Pollution Problem

Alarmingly severe levels of air contamination in Delhi have persisted as a serious issue for over a decade and a half, with the condition showing no improvement.

Around celebratory seasons, the concentration of dangerous airborne contaminants in the air has been found to increase dramatically to 70% higher the peak levels ever recorded in the Chinese city, which was once considered as the globally most contaminated metropolis.

Various Contamination Factors

The situation in Delhi is resulting from a combination of various sources including automobile exhaust, dust, building projects, rubbish burning and smoke from agricultural fires in adjacent regions of farming communities.

Within these states, farmers routinely burn crop residue to clear them quickly, generating hazardous haze that becomes contained over the capital as winter air descends.

Public Health and Economic Impact

Public health and economic impact on the nearly 33 million inhabitants calling home the capital region is enormous, according to various investigations.

This pollution results in increased incidence of neurological, cardiovascular and lung conditions, and can even lead to oncological diseases.

The pollution is estimated to be causing 10,000 early fatalities per year in Delhi.