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Tuesday brought inhabitants of the planet's dirtiest urban center were faced with inhaling dangerously toxic air that was classified as the "severe" category.

Extremely High Pollution Readings

Various sections of Delhi showed an pollution measurement exceeding 500, which equals a tenfold increase over the safe level established by the World Health Organization.

In some locations, concentrations of dangerous airborne particles hit highs of 1800, amounting to fifteen to twenty times above healthy limits.

Pyrotechnics Prohibition and New Developments

Beginning in 2020, the government had maintained a complete ban on the sale and use of pyrotechnics during Diwali due to their significant contribution to the dangerous smog that covers the city as colder weather sets in.

Nevertheless recently, the current local administration approached the highest court to request a modification of the restrictions.

The suggestion was allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – which have been questioned by conservation groups as being only roughly 30 percent less polluting – as a balance between "cultural practices and public health".

Court Verdict and Implementation

Despite concerns of public health and environmental advocates, judicial authorities agreed to the proposal, specifying that green firecrackers could be set off during designated hours throughout the celebrations.

During the celebrations, there was extensive flouting of the regulated periods across the city, with minimal monitoring regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the supposedly greener variety.

Several monitoring devices throughout the capital recorded contamination spiking around midnight to extremely hazardous levels observed during Diwali in at least recent memory.

Cross-Border Effects

Extensive ignition of fireworks during Diwali also triggered a blame game with neighbouring Pakistan, with representatives in Pakistani Punjab partially attributing deteriorating atmospheric conditions in Lahore on hazardous particles coming from India following the celebrations.

Chronic Pollution Problem

The dangerously high readings of pollution in Delhi have persisted as a serious problem for more than 15 years, with the problem gradually deteriorating.

Near celebratory seasons, the amount of hazardous airborne contaminants in the environment has been documented to spike to 70% higher the peak records ever recorded in the Chinese city, which was once considered as the world's most polluted city.

Multiple Pollution Factors

The problem in the capital is resulting from a mix of various sources including heavy vehicle emissions, airborne particles, building projects, garbage fires and haze from agricultural fires in neighbouring areas of neighboring agricultural zones.

In these regions, rural residents illegally set their fields on fire to expedite field preparation, generating hazardous smog that becomes contained over the capital as colder air descends.

Medical and Financial Impact

Public health and economic consequences on the nearly 33 million inhabitants living in the Delhi area is significant, according to various studies.

These hazardous conditions causes high levels of nervous system, cardiovascular and lung disorders, and can even lead to oncological diseases.

The pollution is projected to be accounting for ten thousand untimely deaths annually in the capital.