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As Tuesday dawned residents of this heavily contaminated metropolis found themselves inhaling dangerously toxic air that fell into the "severe" level.

Record-Breaking Air Quality Readings

Multiple areas of Delhi showed an air quality index above 500, which translates to ten times the healthy threshold set by the WHO.

Certain monitoring stations, concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 hit highs of eighteen hundred, equating to 15 to 20 times above acceptable levels.

Fireworks Prohibition and Recent Policy Shifts

Beginning in 2020, officials had maintained a complete ban on the purchase and ignition of firecrackers during celebrations due to their significant contribution to the dangerous pollution that blankets the city as colder weather approaches.

Nevertheless earlier this year, the newly elected regional government approached the highest court to request a relaxation of the ban.

The suggestion was allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – which have been criticized by environmental experts as being only roughly 30 percent lower impact – as a middle ground between "heritage and public health".

Legal Verdict and Reality

Despite concerns of public health and environmental activists, judicial authorities complied with the proposal, stipulating that green firecrackers could be set off during specific periods throughout the Diwali.

Throughout the festival evening, there was widespread violation of the designated hours across the city, with minimal enforcement regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the more environmentally friendly version.

Numerous recording stations throughout the city showed contamination peaking around late evening to the most severe levels seen during celebrations in at least three years.

International Implications

Extensive ignition of pyrotechnics during the festival also initiated a blame game with bordering the neighboring country, with officials in Pakistani Punjab province pointing to deteriorating air quality in Lahore on hazardous particles traveling from neighboring India following the celebrations.

Long-Standing Environmental Issue

The dangerously high readings of atmospheric toxins in the capital have persisted as a major problem for more than 15 years, with the condition gradually deteriorating.

Around the festival period, the levels of toxic particulate matter in the environment has been found to shoot up to 70% higher the peak levels ever recorded in China's capital, which was formerly considered as the globally most contaminated city.

Various Pollution Sources

The problem in the city is caused by a combination of multiple factors including heavy vehicle emissions, construction debris, building projects, garbage fires and smoke from agricultural fires in nearby states of farming communities.

Within these states, farmers routinely ignite agricultural waste to expedite field preparation, producing dangerous pollution that becomes contained over the metropolitan area as cooler air sets in.

Public Health and Economic Impact

Public health and economic impact on the nearly 33 million residents living in the Delhi area is significant, according to numerous research.

The contaminated air leads to high levels of neurological, heart and circulatory and respiratory diseases, and can potentially cause malignancies.

Air quality crisis is estimated to be causing ten thousand untimely mortalities each year in the city.