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On Tuesday morning residents of the planet's dirtiest urban center encountered breathing dangerously toxic air that fell into the "critical" level.

Extremely High Air Quality Measurements

Several parts of the capital showed an pollution measurement exceeding 500, which equals ten times the safe limit set by the global health authority.

Particular areas, levels of PM2.5 and PM10 reached peaks of 1800, representing 15-20x above acceptable standards.

Fireworks Restrictions and Recent Changes

For the past four years, officials had enforced a complete ban on the distribution and bursting of pyrotechnics during Diwali due to their significant contribution to the deadly haze that covers the metropolis as colder weather approaches.

Yet in recent months, the current regional leadership appealed to the supreme court to request a modification of the restrictions.

The suggestion was allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – historically criticized by environmental experts as being only about 30% lower impact – as a compromise between "heritage and public health".

Court Ruling and Reality

Despite concerns of medical and ecological advocates, judicial authorities agreed to the request, mandating that green firecrackers could be used during limited periods throughout the celebrations.

On Monday night, there was extensive flouting of the regulated periods across the capital, with minimal enforcement regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the eco-friendly version.

Numerous recording stations throughout the capital recorded pollution spiking around late evening to some of the worst levels observed during Diwali in at least recent memory.

International Consequences

The widespread use of firecrackers during the festival also sparked a blame game with adjacent Pakistan, with representatives in Pakistani Punjab partly blaming worsening atmospheric conditions in Lahore on pollutants traveling from India following the celebrations.

Long-Standing Environmental Issue

Alarmingly severe readings of pollution in Delhi have continued as a serious problem for more than 15 years, with the situation continuing to worsen.

During celebratory seasons, the levels of toxic particles in the environment has been found to increase dramatically to seventy percent above the worst levels ever documented in the Chinese city, which was formerly viewed as the world's most polluted city.

Various Contamination Contributors

The problem in Delhi is resulting from a mix of different contributors including heavy vehicle emissions, construction debris, building projects, garbage fires and haze from farm burning in nearby states of farming communities.

Throughout these areas, rural residents routinely burn crop residue to prepare for next season, creating dangerous smog that remains stagnant over the metropolitan area as colder air arrives.

Health and Financial Toll

Public health and economic impact on the approximately 33 million inhabitants calling home the Delhi area is significant, according to various research.

The contaminated air results in elevated rates of nervous system, heart and circulatory and breathing conditions, and can potentially cause malignancies.

The pollution is calculated to be accounting for ten thousand untimely mortalities each year in the capital.