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Tuesday brought residents of the planet's dirtiest urban center were faced with breathing extremely polluted air that was classified as the "critical" range.

Extremely High Air Quality Levels

Various sections of Delhi recorded an AQI over 500, which translates to a tenfold increase over the healthy limit set by the global health authority.

In some locations, readings of toxic particulate matter reached peaks of 1,800, equating to 15 to 20 times above healthy limits.

Fireworks Restrictions and New Changes

Beginning in 2020, officials had enforced a complete ban on the distribution and bursting of fireworks during the Festival of Lights due to their substantial impact to the deadly smog that covers the metropolis as winter approaches.

Nevertheless earlier this year, the current regional leadership petitioned the highest court to seek a easing of the ban.

The suggestion was allowing "green crackers" – historically doubted by environmentalists as being only roughly 30 percent lower impact – as a middle ground between "heritage and public health".

Court Ruling and Enforcement

Much to the frustration of environmental and health activists, judges approved the proposal, stipulating that green firecrackers could be used during designated periods throughout the Diwali.

Throughout the festival evening, there was considerable violation of the regulated periods across the metropolis, with insufficient monitoring regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the eco-friendly variety.

Numerous monitoring devices throughout the capital recorded contamination reaching highest levels around late evening to the most severe readings seen during celebrations in at least three years.

International Consequences

The proliferation of pyrotechnics during Diwali also sparked a blame game with adjacent Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistan's Punjab pointing to declining pollution levels in Lahore on pollutants originating in neighboring India following the events.

Persistent Environmental Crisis

Alarmingly severe levels of air contamination in the city have remained as a significant issue for over a decade and a half, with the problem continuing to worsen.

Near Diwali, the levels of toxic particulate matter in the air has been documented to increase dramatically to 70% higher the peak records ever recorded in Beijing, which was once considered as the world's most polluted city.

Diverse Contamination Contributors

The situation in the capital is caused by a convergence of various sources including heavy vehicle emissions, dust, development work, waste incineration and pollutants from agricultural fires in adjacent states of neighboring agricultural zones.

In these regions, rural residents routinely ignite agricultural waste to prepare for next season, creating hazardous haze that remains stagnant over the metropolitan area as winter air descends.

Medical and Financial Impact

Public health and economic impact on the approximately 33 million residents living in the capital region is substantial, according to numerous studies.

These hazardous conditions results in high levels of nervous system, heart and circulatory and breathing diseases, and can even lead to cancer.

The pollution is projected to be causing 10,000 untimely deaths per year in Delhi.