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Tuesday brought residents of this heavily contaminated metropolis found themselves exposed to extremely polluted air that fell into the "critical" level.

Record-Breaking Pollution Levels

Several parts of the capital registered an air quality index over 500, which translates to ten times the recommended level set by the global health authority.

Particular areas, levels of PM2.5 and PM10 hit highs of 1800, equating to 15 to 20 times higher than safe limits.

Firecracker Restrictions and Recent Developments

Since 2020, authorities had implemented a total prohibition on the purchase and ignition of pyrotechnics during the Festival of Lights due to their major role to the dangerous haze that engulfs the metropolis as the cold season approaches.

Yet in recent months, the newly elected city government approached the supreme court to request a modification of the prohibition.

The suggestion was allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – previously questioned by environmental experts as being only approximately one-third reduced emissions – as a compromise between "heritage and environment".

Legal Ruling and Reality

Despite concerns of medical and ecological advocates, judges agreed to the request, stipulating that green firecrackers could be ignited during limited periods throughout the celebrations.

On Monday night, there was widespread violation of the regulated periods across the capital, with insufficient enforcement regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the supposedly greener type.

Several recording stations throughout the capital recorded air quality spiking around the night hours to some of the worst readings recorded during celebrations in at least the past three years.

Cross-Border Consequences

The widespread use of pyrotechnics during Diwali also sparked a controversy with bordering Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistani the Punjab region partly blaming worsening atmospheric conditions in the city of Lahore on pollutants traveling from India following the events.

Chronic Environmental Crisis

Alarmingly severe readings of pollution in Delhi have remained as a serious issue for more than 15 years, with the condition continuing to worsen.

During Diwali, the concentration of dangerous particulate matter in the environment has been observed to spike to significantly exceeding the worst records ever measured in the Chinese city, which was previously regarded as the world's most polluted metropolis.

Multiple Contamination Contributors

The situation in the city is resulting from a convergence of multiple factors including automobile exhaust, airborne particles, development work, waste incineration and haze from farm burning in neighbouring areas of neighboring agricultural zones.

Within these states, farmers routinely ignite agricultural waste to clear them quickly, generating toxic haze that becomes contained over the capital as cooler air sets in.

Public Health and Economic Toll

Public health and economic impact on the nearly 33 million people living in the capital region is significant, according to numerous research.

The contaminated air leads to high levels of neurological, heart and circulatory and respiratory diseases, and can even lead to malignancies.

The pollution is projected to be accounting for ten thousand early fatalities per year in the city.