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

Extremely High Pollution Measurements

Various sections of the city registered an AQI over 500, which equals a tenfold increase over the recommended threshold recommended by the WHO.

In some locations, readings of dangerous airborne particles reached peaks of 1800, representing 15 to 20 times higher than safe standards.

Pyrotechnics Prohibition and Current Policy Shifts

For the past four years, officials had enforced a total prohibition on the purchase and ignition of fireworks during celebrations due to their significant contribution to the dangerous pollution that blankets the city as colder weather approaches.

However in recent months, the recently formed regional administration approached the highest court to propose a modification of the restrictions.

They proposed allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – previously questioned by environmental experts as being only about 30% lower impact – as a balance between "heritage and ecological concerns".

Court Ruling and Implementation

To the disappointment of public health and environmental campaigners, judicial authorities approved the proposal, mandating that green firecrackers could be ignited during limited time windows throughout the celebrations.

Throughout the festival evening, there was widespread flouting of the time restrictions across the city, with little regulation regarding whether the fireworks being used were actually the eco-friendly variety.

Numerous air quality sensors throughout Delhi showed pollution peaking around late evening to extremely hazardous levels seen during celebrations in at least recent memory.

Cross-Border Consequences

The widespread use of firecrackers during Diwali also initiated a blame game with adjacent Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistan's the Punjab region pointing to worsening atmospheric conditions in the city of Lahore on contaminants originating in neighboring India following the events.

Chronic Environmental Problem

Extremely elevated levels of pollution in Delhi have remained as a serious problem for over a decade and a half, with the problem gradually deteriorating.

Around Diwali, the amount of hazardous particles in the air has been documented to shoot up to 70% higher the peak readings ever recorded in Beijing, which was formerly viewed as the planet's dirtiest urban center.

Various Pollution Sources

The problem in Delhi is resulting from a combination of different contributors including heavy vehicle emissions, airborne particles, development work, rubbish burning and haze from crop residue ignition in neighbouring areas of farming communities.

Throughout these areas, farmers regularly set their fields on fire to expedite field preparation, generating dangerous pollution that remains stagnant over the metropolitan area as winter air descends.

Health and Financial Impact

Public health and economic consequences on the nearly 33 million residents living in the capital region is substantial, according to various research.

These hazardous conditions leads to high levels of nervous system, cardiovascular and lung diseases, and can result in cancer.

Air quality crisis is estimated to be responsible for 10,000 untimely deaths per year in the capital.