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As Tuesday dawned citizens of the world's most polluted city found themselves inhaling extremely polluted air that was classified as the "critical" category.

Extremely High Pollution Readings

Multiple areas of the capital registered an air quality index over 500, which translates to ten times the recommended limit established by the WHO.

Particular areas, concentrations of dangerous airborne particles soared to of 1800, amounting to 15-20x exceeding healthy limits.

Pyrotechnics Prohibition and Current Changes

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 deadly pollution that blankets the capital as the cold season approaches.

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

Officials advocated for allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – previously doubted by environmentalists as being only roughly 30 percent less polluting – as a balance between "cultural practices and public health".

Judicial Verdict and Reality

To the disappointment of public health and environmental advocates, the court approved the appeal, stipulating that environmentally conscious fireworks could be ignited during limited time windows throughout the festival.

On Monday night, there was widespread disregard of the regulated periods across the metropolis, with minimal regulation regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the eco-friendly type.

Several air quality sensors throughout the capital registered air quality spiking around midnight to some of the worst measurements recorded during the festival in at least recent memory.

Regional Effects

The proliferation of firecrackers during the celebrations also triggered a blame game with neighbouring Pakistan, with representatives in Pakistan's the Punjab region partly blaming declining pollution levels in the city of Lahore on contaminants coming from across the border following the events.

Persistent Environmental Problem

Extremely elevated concentrations of pollution in the capital have continued as a major challenge for more than 15 years, with the situation showing no improvement.

During the festival period, the concentration of hazardous particulate matter in the air has been found to spike to seventy percent above the peak levels ever recorded in the Chinese city, which was previously regarded as the planet's dirtiest city.

Various Pollution Factors

The problem in the capital is attributed to a mix of multiple factors including transportation pollution, construction debris, building projects, rubbish burning and smoke from agricultural fires in neighbouring states of neighboring agricultural zones.

Throughout these areas, farmers illegally ignite agricultural waste to expedite field preparation, producing hazardous smog that then gets trapped over the capital as cooler air sets in.

Medical and Economic Consequences

Public health and economic consequences on the nearly 33 million residents living in the Delhi area is significant, according to various studies.

The contaminated air leads to increased incidence of neurological, heart and circulatory and lung disorders, and can potentially cause oncological diseases.

Air quality crisis is estimated to be causing 10,000 untimely mortalities annually in Delhi.