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As Tuesday dawned inhabitants of the world's most polluted city encountered exposed to severely hazardous air that was classified as the "alarming" range.

Extremely High Air Quality Measurements

Various sections of the city showed an AQI above 500, which equals a tenfold increase over the recommended threshold set by the global health authority.

Particular areas, levels of toxic particulate matter soared to of 1800, amounting to 15-20x higher than safe levels.

Pyrotechnics Prohibition and Current Policy Shifts

For the past four years, the government had implemented a complete ban on the purchase and ignition of fireworks during the Festival of Lights due to their substantial impact to the hazardous pollution that engulfs the capital as the cold season sets in.

However in recent months, the newly elected local government petitioned the judicial authority to seek a relaxation of the restrictions.

Officials advocated for allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – previously doubted by conservation groups as being only roughly 30 percent lower impact – as a balance between "tradition and public health".

Legal Verdict and Enforcement

To the disappointment of environmental and health campaigners, judges agreed to the appeal, mandating that eco-friendly pyrotechnics could be used during limited hours throughout the Diwali.

During the celebrations, there was widespread violation of the designated hours across the capital, with little regulation regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the supposedly greener variety.

Many recording stations throughout the city recorded pollution peaking around midnight to some of the worst readings seen during celebrations in at least three years.

International Consequences

Extensive ignition of firecrackers during the celebrations also sparked a dispute with neighbouring Pakistan, with officials in Pakistani Punjab province partially attributing deteriorating atmospheric conditions in their urban centers on hazardous particles traveling from India following the festivities.

Long-Standing Pollution Problem

Alarmingly severe concentrations of air contamination in Delhi have remained as a major problem for more than 15 years, with the condition gradually deteriorating.

During celebratory seasons, the amount of toxic particulate matter in the atmosphere has been documented to increase dramatically to 70% higher the peak readings ever measured in China's capital, which was previously viewed as the globally most contaminated metropolis.

Multiple Pollution Sources

This crisis in the capital is attributed to a convergence of multiple factors including automobile exhaust, airborne particles, building projects, waste incineration and haze from crop residue ignition in adjacent states of farming communities.

Throughout these areas, agricultural workers routinely burn crop residue to expedite field preparation, creating toxic smog that then gets trapped over the capital as winter air descends.

Medical and Economic Impact

Public health and economic impact on the nearly 33 million inhabitants living in the Delhi area is substantial, according to various investigations.

The contaminated air causes increased incidence of nervous system, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and can even lead to oncological diseases.

Environmental contamination is estimated to be accounting for 10,000 early fatalities per year in Delhi.