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As Tuesday dawned inhabitants of this heavily contaminated metropolis found themselves exposed to dangerously toxic air that fell into the "severe" category.

Extremely High Air Quality Readings

Several parts of the capital recorded an pollution measurement above 500, which translates to a tenfold increase over the healthy limit recommended by the WHO.

Certain monitoring stations, concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 hit highs of 1,800, amounting to 15 to 20 times above acceptable limits.

Firecracker Prohibition and Current Developments

Beginning in 2020, officials had implemented a total prohibition on the purchase and ignition of firecrackers during the Festival of Lights due to their significant contribution to the hazardous pollution that covers the city as the cold season begins.

However recently, the recently formed regional government approached the highest court to request a modification of the restrictions.

Officials advocated for allowing "green crackers" – which have been criticized by environmental experts as being only approximately one-third lower impact – as a compromise between "cultural practices and environment".

Court Decision and Reality

Despite concerns of public health and environmental campaigners, judges approved the proposal, mandating that green firecrackers could be used during specific periods throughout the Diwali.

During the celebrations, there was extensive violation of the time restrictions across the capital, with little regulation regarding whether the fireworks being used were actually the more environmentally friendly version.

Numerous monitoring devices throughout the city recorded air quality spiking around late evening to some of the worst measurements seen during Diwali in at least the past three years.

International Implications

The proliferation of fireworks during Diwali also sparked a dispute with neighbouring Pakistan, with representatives in Pakistan's the Punjab region partially attributing deteriorating air quality in Lahore on pollutants originating in neighboring India following the celebrations.

Persistent Pollution Issue

The dangerously high levels of air contamination in the capital have remained as a significant problem for more than 15 years, with the situation continuing to worsen.

Near the festival period, the amount of hazardous particulate matter in the air has been documented to increase dramatically to significantly exceeding the most severe readings ever recorded in China's capital, which was formerly viewed as the world's most polluted urban center.

Diverse Pollution Contributors

The problem in the city is resulting from a mix of different contributors including automobile exhaust, airborne particles, building projects, garbage fires and haze from agricultural fires in adjacent areas of Punjab and Haryana.

Within these states, agricultural workers illegally set their fields on fire to prepare for next season, generating dangerous haze that remains stagnant over the capital as winter air descends.

Public Health and Financial Consequences

The economic and health impact on the nearly 33 million inhabitants calling home the Delhi area is enormous, according to multiple research.

These hazardous conditions results in increased incidence of neurological, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and can even lead to oncological diseases.

The pollution is projected to be accounting for 10,000 untimely mortalities per year in Delhi.