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On Tuesday morning citizens of the world's most polluted city found themselves exposed to dangerously toxic air that registered in the "critical" category.

Alarming Air Quality Measurements

Several parts of the city registered an pollution measurement over 500, which equals a tenfold increase over the safe level recommended by the World Health Organization.

Particular areas, levels of toxic particulate matter hit highs of 1800, equating to 15 to 20 times exceeding acceptable levels.

Fireworks Restrictions and New Developments

For the past four years, officials had maintained a total prohibition on the purchase and ignition of pyrotechnics during celebrations due to their substantial impact to the hazardous pollution that blankets the capital as winter sets in.

However recently, the current city administration appealed to the highest court to seek a easing of the restrictions.

The suggestion was allowing "green crackers" – historically doubted by conservation groups as being only about 30% less polluting – as a compromise between "tradition and environment".

Judicial Verdict and Reality

To the disappointment of environmental and health activists, the court complied with the request, mandating that eco-friendly pyrotechnics could be set off during limited time windows throughout the Diwali.

During the celebrations, there was widespread disregard of the designated hours across the city, with insufficient regulation regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the more environmentally friendly version.

Several air quality sensors throughout the capital recorded air quality spiking around late evening to the most severe levels seen during Diwali in at least recent memory.

International Effects

Extensive ignition of firecrackers during the festival also initiated a blame game with bordering Pakistan, with officials in Pakistan's the Punjab region partly blaming worsening pollution levels in the city of Lahore on contaminants traveling from neighboring India following the events.

Persistent Pollution Problem

The dangerously high readings of atmospheric toxins in the city have remained as a significant problem for fifteen-plus years, with the situation continuing to worsen.

During Diwali, the concentration of toxic airborne contaminants in the environment has been observed to increase dramatically to significantly exceeding the most severe records ever recorded in Beijing, which was previously regarded as the world's most polluted metropolis.

Diverse Contamination Factors

The situation in Delhi is attributed to a combination of different contributors including transportation pollution, airborne particles, building projects, garbage fires and haze from farm burning in nearby states of farming communities.

Within these states, farmers illegally set their fields on fire to clear them quickly, generating toxic smog that becomes contained over the capital as cooler air arrives.

Medical and Economic Consequences

The economic and health consequences on the nearly 33 million inhabitants living in the Delhi area is enormous, according to multiple research.

These hazardous conditions leads to high levels of nervous system, cardiovascular and lung disorders, and can potentially cause cancer.

Air quality crisis is estimated to be accounting for ten thousand premature mortalities each year in Delhi.