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On Tuesday morning citizens of the planet's dirtiest urban center were faced with inhaling severely hazardous air that fell into the "alarming" range.

Extremely High Pollution Measurements

Various sections of the capital registered an air quality index above 500, which equals a tenfold increase over the recommended level established by the global health authority.

Particular areas, readings of toxic particulate matter reached peaks of 1800, representing 15-20x exceeding acceptable limits.

Pyrotechnics Restrictions and Recent Changes

For the past four years, officials had implemented a complete ban on the purchase and ignition of pyrotechnics during celebrations due to their major role to the hazardous pollution that blankets the capital as colder weather begins.

Nevertheless in recent months, the newly elected regional government petitioned the supreme court to propose a relaxation of the prohibition.

The suggestion was allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – historically criticized by environmentalists as being only roughly 30 percent reduced emissions – as a balance between "tradition and public health".

Legal Ruling and Reality

Despite concerns of medical and ecological campaigners, the court approved the request, stipulating that eco-friendly pyrotechnics could be ignited during specific time windows throughout the celebrations.

Throughout the festival evening, there was considerable violation of the time restrictions across the capital, with insufficient monitoring regarding whether the fireworks being used were actually the eco-friendly type.

Several monitoring devices throughout Delhi recorded pollution peaking around the night hours to extremely hazardous readings observed during the festival in at least three years.

Cross-Border Consequences

The widespread use of fireworks during Diwali also triggered a controversy with adjacent the neighboring country, with representatives in Pakistani Punjab province partially attributing deteriorating atmospheric conditions in their urban centers on contaminants coming from India following the celebrations.

Chronic Pollution Problem

The dangerously high concentrations of pollution in the city have persisted as a significant problem for over a decade and a half, with the condition showing no improvement.

Around Diwali, the concentration of dangerous airborne contaminants in the environment has been observed to increase dramatically to seventy percent above the most severe records ever documented in Beijing, which was formerly considered as the planet's dirtiest city.

Various Pollution Contributors

The problem in the capital is resulting from a combination of multiple factors including heavy vehicle emissions, dust, development work, garbage fires and pollutants from crop residue ignition in neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.

Within these states, farmers regularly ignite agricultural waste to expedite field preparation, creating hazardous haze that becomes contained over the city as colder air descends.

Health and Financial Consequences

Public health and economic toll on the approximately 33 million inhabitants residing in the capital region is enormous, according to numerous studies.

The contaminated air causes increased incidence of nervous system, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and can result in oncological diseases.

Environmental contamination is projected to be accounting for 10,000 premature mortalities each year in Delhi.