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On Tuesday morning inhabitants of the world's most polluted city were faced with breathing extremely polluted air that fell into the "critical" category.

Extremely High Air Quality Readings

Multiple areas of Delhi recorded an air quality index exceeding 500, which equals ten times the healthy limit established by the WHO.

Certain monitoring stations, levels of dangerous airborne particles soared to of 1,800, equating to 15 to 20 times higher than acceptable standards.

Fireworks Ban and Recent Policy Shifts

Beginning in 2020, the government had implemented a total prohibition on the purchase and ignition of fireworks during the Festival of Lights due to their significant contribution to the deadly pollution that covers the city as colder weather sets in.

Nevertheless earlier this year, the newly elected city leadership approached the supreme court to request a easing of the ban.

The suggestion was allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – which have been questioned by conservation groups as being only roughly 30 percent lower impact – as a balance between "cultural practices and environment".

Court Decision and Implementation

Much to the frustration of environmental and health campaigners, the court complied with the proposal, specifying that green firecrackers could be set off during specific time windows throughout the festival.

During the celebrations, there was widespread disregard of the regulated periods across the capital, with minimal monitoring regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the eco-friendly version.

Many recording stations throughout Delhi recorded contamination spiking around late evening to extremely hazardous levels recorded during Diwali in at least three years.

Regional Effects

The proliferation of fireworks during the celebrations also sparked a dispute with bordering Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistan's Punjab partially attributing worsening atmospheric conditions in Lahore on pollutants originating in neighboring India following the events.

Persistent Environmental Crisis

Alarmingly severe levels of pollution in Delhi have persisted as a significant problem for fifteen-plus years, with the problem gradually deteriorating.

During Diwali, the amount of hazardous particulate matter in the air has been observed to increase dramatically to 70% higher the worst readings ever measured in China's capital, which was once considered as the world's most polluted metropolis.

Diverse Contamination Factors

The situation in Delhi is resulting from a convergence of various sources including transportation pollution, construction debris, development work, rubbish burning and smoke from farm burning in neighbouring regions of neighboring agricultural zones.

Throughout these areas, farmers regularly burn crop residue to clear them quickly, producing dangerous smog that becomes contained over the capital as cooler air descends.

Medical and Financial Impact

Public health and economic toll on the nearly 33 million inhabitants calling home the metropolitan zone is enormous, according to various investigations.

The contaminated air causes increased incidence of neurological, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, and can even lead to oncological diseases.

The pollution is calculated to be accounting for 10,000 early mortalities annually in the city.