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On Tuesday morning citizens of the world's most polluted city were faced with inhaling dangerously toxic air that registered in the "severe" level.

Extremely High Pollution Measurements

Several parts of the city showed an AQI exceeding 500, which translates to a tenfold increase over the recommended level established by the WHO.

Certain monitoring stations, concentrations of toxic particulate matter reached peaks of eighteen hundred, equating to 15-20x higher than healthy levels.

Firecracker Ban and Current Policy Shifts

Beginning in 2020, the government had maintained a total prohibition on the purchase and ignition of fireworks during Diwali due to their significant contribution to the dangerous pollution that covers the metropolis as the cold season approaches.

However earlier this year, the recently formed city government appealed to the judicial authority to request a easing of the prohibition.

The suggestion was allowing "green crackers" – which have been doubted by environmental experts as being only about 30% less polluting – as a compromise between "heritage and public health".

Legal Ruling and Enforcement

To the disappointment of public health and environmental campaigners, judicial authorities approved the request, specifying that green firecrackers could be used during specific hours throughout the celebrations.

During the celebrations, there was extensive violation of the regulated periods across the capital, with little enforcement regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the supposedly greener version.

Several recording stations throughout the capital showed pollution peaking around late evening to extremely hazardous readings seen during Diwali in at least recent memory.

Cross-Border Consequences

Extensive ignition of fireworks during the festival also initiated a blame game with neighbouring the neighboring country, with officials in Pakistani the Punjab region partially attributing deteriorating air quality in their urban centers on hazardous particles originating in India following the festivities.

Persistent Environmental Problem

The dangerously high concentrations of air contamination in Delhi have remained as a serious challenge for fifteen-plus years, with the condition gradually deteriorating.

During the festival period, the levels of toxic particles in the air has been observed to shoot up to significantly exceeding the peak levels ever documented in the Chinese city, which was previously viewed as the planet's dirtiest urban center.

Diverse Pollution Sources

The problem in the capital is attributed to a convergence of different contributors including transportation pollution, construction debris, construction activities, waste incineration and haze from crop residue ignition in nearby regions of Punjab and Haryana.

In these regions, farmers regularly ignite agricultural waste to prepare for next season, creating dangerous haze that remains stagnant over the city as winter air arrives.

Health and Economic Impact

Public health and economic toll on the nearly 33 million residents residing in the Delhi area is significant, according to various investigations.

The contaminated air leads to increased incidence of nervous system, cardiovascular and breathing diseases, and can potentially cause cancer.

The pollution is estimated to be responsible for ten thousand premature deaths annually in the capital.