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Tuesday brought citizens of the world's most polluted city were faced with inhaling extremely polluted air that was classified as the "alarming" range.

Alarming Air Quality Readings

Multiple areas of Delhi showed an pollution measurement over 500, which translates to 10x the recommended level established by the WHO.

Particular areas, concentrations of toxic particulate matter hit highs of 1800, equating to fifteen to twenty times exceeding safe levels.

Firecracker Restrictions and Current Developments

For the past four years, the government had enforced a complete ban on the distribution and bursting of pyrotechnics during the Festival of Lights due to their substantial impact to the dangerous haze that covers the metropolis as winter begins.

Nevertheless earlier this year, the newly elected local government petitioned the supreme court to seek a modification of the restrictions.

Officials advocated for allowing "green crackers" – which have been criticized by conservation groups as being only about 30% reduced emissions – as a balance between "cultural practices and environment".

Legal Verdict and Enforcement

Much to the frustration of medical and ecological advocates, judges approved the appeal, mandating that environmentally conscious fireworks could be used during limited hours throughout the celebrations.

On Monday night, there was considerable violation of the regulated periods across the city, with little regulation regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the supposedly greener type.

Several air quality sensors throughout Delhi registered pollution spiking around late evening to some of the worst levels observed during Diwali in at least three years.

Regional Implications

The proliferation of pyrotechnics during Diwali also initiated a dispute with adjacent Pakistan, with officials in Pakistani Punjab province partly blaming declining air quality in their urban centers on hazardous particles coming from India following the celebrations.

Long-Standing Pollution Issue

The dangerously high levels of air contamination in the city have continued as a serious challenge for more than 15 years, with the condition gradually deteriorating.

Around Diwali, the concentration of toxic particulate matter in the environment has been documented to increase dramatically to significantly exceeding the most severe levels ever recorded in Beijing, which was once considered as the world's most polluted metropolis.

Multiple Contamination Contributors

This crisis in the capital is resulting from a convergence of multiple factors including heavy vehicle emissions, dust, construction activities, garbage fires and smoke from farm burning in nearby areas of farming communities.

Throughout these areas, farmers regularly ignite agricultural waste to expedite field preparation, generating dangerous pollution that then gets trapped over the city as winter air sets in.

Public Health and Economic Toll

Both financial and medical impact on the approximately 33 million residents calling home the Delhi area is substantial, according to numerous studies.

The contaminated air causes elevated rates of neurological, heart and circulatory and lung diseases, and can even lead to cancer.

Air quality crisis is projected to be accounting for ten thousand untimely fatalities annually in Delhi.