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Tuesday brought inhabitants of the planet's dirtiest urban center were faced with exposed to extremely polluted air that fell into the "severe" category.

Record-Breaking Pollution Readings

Several parts of the capital recorded an pollution measurement over 500, which equals 10x the healthy threshold set by the World Health Organization.

In some locations, levels of toxic particulate matter hit highs of 1,800, equating to 15-20x above healthy standards.

Pyrotechnics Ban and Current Changes

Beginning in 2020, the government had implemented a comprehensive restriction on the purchase and ignition of firecrackers during the Festival of Lights due to their major role to the deadly smog that covers the capital as winter begins.

However in recent months, the newly elected city administration petitioned the judicial authority to propose a modification of the ban.

They proposed allowing "green crackers" – which have been criticized by environmentalists as being only about 30% reduced emissions – as a middle ground between "heritage and public health".

Judicial Ruling and Reality

To the disappointment of public health and environmental advocates, judicial authorities agreed to the request, stipulating that environmentally conscious fireworks could be used during limited periods throughout the festival.

During the celebrations, there was considerable violation of the time restrictions across the capital, with little monitoring regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the eco-friendly type.

Many recording stations throughout Delhi registered contamination spiking around late evening to some of the worst measurements observed during celebrations in at least three years.

Regional Effects

Extensive ignition of pyrotechnics during the festival also triggered a blame game with bordering the neighboring country, with officials in Pakistani Punjab province pointing to deteriorating pollution levels in the city of Lahore on pollutants coming from neighboring India following the celebrations.

Long-Standing Pollution Problem

Extremely elevated levels of atmospheric toxins in the capital have continued as a serious issue for fifteen-plus years, with the condition gradually deteriorating.

Around celebratory seasons, the levels of dangerous particles in the air has been observed to spike to 70% higher the worst levels ever measured in Beijing, which was formerly considered as the planet's dirtiest metropolis.

Various Contamination Contributors

The situation in Delhi is attributed to a combination of various sources including transportation pollution, dust, building projects, rubbish burning and haze from crop residue ignition in adjacent regions of neighboring agricultural zones.

Throughout these areas, agricultural workers illegally burn crop residue to clear them quickly, creating toxic haze that becomes contained over the metropolitan area as winter air arrives.

Medical and Economic Toll

The economic and health impact on the nearly 33 million inhabitants calling home the capital region is enormous, according to numerous research.

The contaminated air results in increased incidence of nervous system, cardiovascular and respiratory disorders, and can result in malignancies.

The pollution is calculated to be responsible for 10,000 untimely deaths annually in Delhi.