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As Tuesday dawned inhabitants of the world's most polluted city encountered inhaling extremely polluted air that registered in the "alarming" level.

Alarming Pollution Readings

Multiple areas of the capital showed an air quality index exceeding 500, which represents 10x the safe limit recommended by the global health authority.

Certain monitoring stations, levels of toxic particulate matter hit highs of 1800, representing fifteen to twenty times exceeding acceptable levels.

Pyrotechnics Restrictions and New Developments

For the past four years, the government had implemented a total prohibition on the purchase and ignition of firecrackers during celebrations due to their major role to the deadly haze that covers the capital as the cold season approaches.

Yet recently, the recently formed regional leadership appealed to the judicial authority to request a easing of the restrictions.

The suggestion was allowing "green crackers" – which have been doubted by conservation groups as being only about 30% lower impact – as a balance between "tradition and environment".

Legal Ruling and Reality

To the disappointment of public health and environmental campaigners, the court agreed to the request, specifying that eco-friendly pyrotechnics could be used during specific hours throughout the Diwali.

During the celebrations, there was considerable violation of the time restrictions across the metropolis, with little regulation regarding whether the fireworks being used were actually the supposedly greener type.

Many air quality sensors throughout the city recorded air quality spiking around the night hours to the most severe readings observed during the festival in at least three years.

Cross-Border Effects

Extensive ignition of firecrackers during Diwali also initiated a blame game with neighbouring Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistan's Punjab partly blaming worsening pollution levels in the city of Lahore on contaminants originating in India following the celebrations.

Persistent Environmental Issue

Alarmingly severe readings of atmospheric toxins in the city have remained as a significant issue for more than 15 years, with the situation continuing to worsen.

Around the festival period, the levels of toxic particulate matter in the air has been observed to shoot up to 70% higher the most severe records ever documented in Beijing, which was formerly considered as the world's most polluted city.

Diverse Contamination Contributors

The problem in Delhi is attributed to a mix of multiple factors including transportation pollution, construction debris, construction activities, garbage fires and pollutants from farm burning in nearby states of neighboring agricultural zones.

Throughout these areas, rural residents illegally ignite agricultural waste to prepare for next season, producing toxic haze that then gets trapped over the city as cooler air sets in.

Health and Economic Consequences

The economic and health impact on the roughly thirty-three million inhabitants living in the Delhi area is enormous, according to multiple investigations.

This pollution causes increased incidence of neurological, cardiovascular and breathing disorders, and can result in cancer.

Air quality crisis is estimated to be accounting for approximately 10k premature deaths each year in the capital.