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On Tuesday morning residents of this heavily contaminated metropolis were faced with breathing dangerously toxic air that fell into the "severe" category.

Alarming Pollution Measurements

Various sections of the capital showed an pollution measurement above 500, which equals ten times the safe limit recommended by the WHO.

Certain monitoring stations, concentrations of dangerous airborne particles soared to of 1800, amounting to fifteen to twenty times higher than safe levels.

Pyrotechnics Restrictions and Current Policy Shifts

For the past four years, officials had maintained a complete ban on the distribution and bursting of fireworks during Diwali due to their substantial impact to the dangerous smog that covers the metropolis as colder weather approaches.

Nevertheless earlier this year, the recently formed regional administration appealed to the highest court to request a relaxation of the ban.

The suggestion was allowing "green crackers" – which have been criticized by environmentalists as being only about 30% lower impact – as a compromise between "heritage and environment".

Court Ruling and Implementation

Despite concerns of medical and ecological advocates, judicial authorities complied with the request, mandating that environmentally conscious fireworks could be ignited during specific periods throughout the celebrations.

Throughout the festival evening, there was considerable disregard of the designated hours across the city, with minimal regulation regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the supposedly greener variety.

Numerous monitoring devices throughout the city recorded contamination reaching highest levels around midnight to the most severe readings seen during celebrations in at least recent memory.

International Consequences

The proliferation of fireworks during the celebrations also initiated a dispute with adjacent the neighboring country, with officials in Pakistani Punjab province pointing to worsening air quality in Lahore on contaminants coming from India following the events.

Persistent Environmental Issue

Extremely elevated readings of pollution in the capital have remained as a major issue for more than 15 years, with the condition showing no improvement.

Near the festival period, the amount of toxic airborne contaminants in the air has been found to shoot up to 70% higher the most severe levels ever documented in the Chinese city, which was previously viewed as the globally most contaminated city.

Multiple Contamination Sources

The situation in the capital is attributed to a convergence of various sources including heavy vehicle emissions, dust, construction activities, rubbish burning and smoke from crop residue ignition in adjacent states of Punjab and Haryana.

Throughout these areas, farmers regularly ignite agricultural waste to prepare for next season, generating hazardous smog that becomes contained over the capital as winter air sets in.

Medical and Financial Consequences

Public health and economic impact on the nearly 33 million people calling home the Delhi area is substantial, according to various studies.

This pollution causes increased incidence of nervous system, heart and circulatory and respiratory conditions, and can even lead to oncological diseases.

The pollution is estimated to be accounting for 10,000 untimely deaths annually in the city.