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Tuesday brought inhabitants of the world's most polluted city found themselves inhaling dangerously toxic air that was classified as the "alarming" range.

Record-Breaking Pollution Measurements

Various sections of the city recorded an pollution measurement above 500, which represents a tenfold increase over the recommended level set by the WHO.

Particular areas, levels of dangerous airborne particles soared to of 1,800, equating to 15-20x exceeding safe standards.

Pyrotechnics Ban and Recent Changes

For the past four years, authorities had enforced a complete ban on the purchase and ignition of firecrackers during Diwali due to their substantial impact to the deadly haze that covers the capital as the cold season approaches.

However earlier this year, the newly elected local administration appealed to the supreme court to seek a relaxation of the prohibition.

The suggestion was allowing "green crackers" – historically questioned by conservation groups as being only about 30% lower impact – as a compromise between "cultural practices and public health".

Judicial Verdict and Reality

Despite concerns of medical and ecological campaigners, the court complied with the request, specifying that eco-friendly pyrotechnics could be ignited during specific hours throughout the festival.

On Monday night, there was widespread flouting of the time restrictions across the city, with little regulation regarding whether the fireworks being used were actually the supposedly greener variety.

Numerous air quality sensors throughout the city showed air quality reaching highest levels around the night hours to the most severe levels observed during celebrations in at least three years.

International Consequences

Extensive ignition of pyrotechnics during the celebrations also initiated a dispute with bordering the neighboring country, with authorities in Pakistan's Punjab partly blaming declining atmospheric conditions in their urban centers on contaminants coming from neighboring India following the events.

Chronic Environmental Problem

The dangerously high concentrations of atmospheric toxins in Delhi have continued as a significant problem for fifteen-plus years, with the problem continuing to worsen.

Around Diwali, the concentration of toxic particles in the air has been documented to increase dramatically to 70% higher the most severe records ever recorded in Beijing, which was once regarded as the planet's dirtiest urban center.

Diverse Pollution Sources

The problem in Delhi is caused by a mix of different contributors including heavy vehicle emissions, airborne particles, construction activities, rubbish burning and smoke from farm burning in neighbouring regions of Punjab and Haryana.

Throughout these areas, rural residents routinely set their fields on fire to expedite field preparation, creating dangerous smog that becomes contained over the capital as winter air arrives.

Public Health and Financial Toll

Public health and economic impact on the nearly 33 million inhabitants residing in the metropolitan zone is substantial, according to various research.

This pollution results in elevated rates of neurological, cardiovascular and lung disorders, and can even lead to cancer.

The pollution is projected to be causing approximately 10k early mortalities annually in the city.