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Tuesday brought citizens of the world's most polluted city were faced with exposed to severely hazardous air that fell into the "critical" range.

Extremely High Pollution Measurements

Several parts of the city recorded an air quality index exceeding 500, which equals ten times the healthy limit established by the WHO.

Particular areas, readings of toxic particulate matter soared to of eighteen hundred, representing 15 to 20 times above acceptable standards.

Firecracker Prohibition and Current Changes

For the past four years, authorities had enforced a total prohibition on the sale and use of pyrotechnics during the Festival of Lights due to their substantial impact to the hazardous smog that covers the city as colder weather sets in.

However recently, the recently formed local leadership approached the judicial authority to request a easing of the ban.

The suggestion was allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – previously criticized by environmentalists as being only about 30% less polluting – as a balance between "cultural practices and public health".

Judicial Verdict and Implementation

Despite concerns of environmental and health activists, judicial authorities approved the appeal, mandating that green firecrackers could be set off during specific hours throughout the celebrations.

Throughout the festival evening, there was considerable violation of the designated hours across the city, with minimal monitoring regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the eco-friendly variety.

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

Cross-Border Implications

The proliferation of pyrotechnics during the festival also initiated a controversy with neighbouring Pakistan, with representatives in Pakistan's the Punjab region pointing to worsening air quality in their urban centers on pollutants coming from India following the celebrations.

Persistent Environmental Crisis

Alarmingly severe levels of pollution in Delhi have continued as a significant issue for more than 15 years, with the situation showing no improvement.

During Diwali, the levels of dangerous airborne contaminants in the atmosphere has been found to spike to significantly exceeding the most severe levels ever measured in China's capital, which was previously considered as the planet's dirtiest metropolis.

Multiple Pollution Factors

The situation in Delhi is resulting from a convergence of various sources including automobile exhaust, dust, building projects, garbage fires and pollutants from crop residue ignition in adjacent regions of Punjab and Haryana.

In these regions, agricultural workers routinely ignite agricultural waste to expedite field preparation, generating hazardous pollution that remains stagnant over the capital as cooler air sets in.

Health and Economic Toll

The economic and health impact on the approximately 33 million residents residing in the capital region is substantial, according to numerous research.

The contaminated air leads to elevated rates of nervous system, heart and circulatory and breathing conditions, and can result in cancer.

Air quality crisis is estimated to be accounting for 10,000 early deaths each year in the city.