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On Tuesday morning citizens of this heavily contaminated metropolis encountered exposed to extremely polluted air that registered in the "alarming" range.

Record-Breaking Pollution Levels

Multiple areas of the capital registered an pollution measurement exceeding 500, which represents ten times the healthy threshold set by the WHO.

Particular areas, levels of toxic particulate matter reached peaks of 1,800, representing fifteen to twenty times exceeding healthy levels.

Firecracker Ban and New Policy Shifts

For the past four years, authorities had enforced a complete ban on the purchase and ignition of pyrotechnics during celebrations due to their significant contribution to the deadly haze that covers the city as colder weather sets in.

However recently, the recently formed regional administration approached the highest court to seek a modification of the restrictions.

The suggestion was allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – which have been questioned by environmentalists as being only about 30% reduced emissions – as a compromise between "tradition and environment".

Court Decision and Implementation

To the disappointment of public health and environmental advocates, judicial authorities agreed to the appeal, mandating that green firecrackers could be ignited during designated hours throughout the celebrations.

Throughout the festival evening, there was widespread disregard of the regulated periods across the metropolis, with minimal enforcement regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the eco-friendly variety.

Several monitoring devices throughout Delhi recorded contamination reaching highest levels around midnight to some of the worst levels recorded during the festival in at least recent memory.

Cross-Border Consequences

The widespread use of fireworks during the festival also initiated a dispute with bordering Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistani Punjab pointing to deteriorating atmospheric conditions in their urban centers on pollutants originating in across the border following the events.

Persistent Environmental Issue

The dangerously high concentrations of pollution in Delhi have continued as a serious problem for over a decade and a half, with the situation showing no improvement.

Near the festival period, the amount of toxic airborne contaminants in the atmosphere has been observed to increase dramatically to significantly exceeding the most severe readings ever measured in Beijing, which was previously regarded as the planet's dirtiest city.

Multiple Contamination Sources

The problem in Delhi is caused by a convergence of multiple factors including automobile exhaust, dust, development work, garbage fires and pollutants from farm burning in adjacent areas of Punjab and Haryana.

Throughout these areas, rural residents routinely burn crop residue to prepare for next season, creating toxic pollution that remains stagnant over the metropolitan area as cooler air arrives.

Public Health and Economic Impact

Public health and economic toll on the approximately 33 million people residing in the metropolitan zone is significant, according to numerous studies.

The contaminated air leads to high levels of nervous system, heart and circulatory and breathing diseases, and can result in cancer.

Environmental contamination is projected to be accounting for approximately 10k untimely fatalities each year in the city.