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Tuesday brought citizens of the world's most polluted city found themselves inhaling severely hazardous air that was classified as the "alarming" category.

Record-Breaking Pollution Levels

Several parts of Delhi registered an AQI over 500, which equals 10x the recommended limit established by the WHO.

Particular areas, levels of PM2.5 and PM10 reached peaks of 1,800, amounting to 15-20x above safe levels.

Fireworks Ban and Recent Developments

For the past four years, officials had enforced a complete ban on the sale and use of pyrotechnics during celebrations due to their major role to the hazardous smog that blankets the metropolis as winter begins.

However recently, the recently formed city leadership appealed to the highest court to propose a easing of the restrictions.

Officials advocated for allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – previously criticized by environmentalists as being only approximately one-third reduced emissions – as a middle ground between "tradition and environment".

Court Decision and Enforcement

Much to the frustration of environmental and health advocates, the court agreed to the proposal, mandating that environmentally conscious fireworks could be used during limited hours throughout the Diwali.

Throughout the festival evening, there was extensive flouting of the designated hours across the capital, with little regulation regarding whether the fireworks being used were actually the eco-friendly type.

Numerous monitoring devices throughout the capital recorded pollution peaking around late evening to the most severe readings recorded during the festival in at least three years.

Cross-Border Implications

The widespread use of pyrotechnics during the celebrations also triggered a dispute with neighbouring Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistan's the Punjab region pointing to deteriorating atmospheric conditions in the city of Lahore on hazardous particles traveling from neighboring India following the festivities.

Chronic Environmental Problem

Alarmingly severe levels of pollution in Delhi have remained as a serious issue for more than 15 years, with the condition showing no improvement.

Near Diwali, the concentration of hazardous airborne contaminants in the environment has been documented to shoot up to significantly exceeding the peak records ever documented in China's capital, which was formerly considered as the planet's dirtiest urban center.

Various Contamination Factors

The problem in the capital is attributed to a mix of multiple factors including heavy vehicle emissions, airborne particles, construction activities, waste incineration and pollutants from crop residue ignition in neighbouring areas of farming communities.

Throughout these areas, agricultural workers illegally ignite agricultural waste to expedite field preparation, producing dangerous pollution that remains stagnant over the city as winter air descends.

Health and Economic Toll

The economic and health toll on the approximately 33 million people living in the Delhi area is substantial, according to numerous investigations.

This pollution causes elevated rates of nervous system, heart and circulatory and lung diseases, and can result in cancer.

Air quality crisis is calculated to be responsible for ten thousand early mortalities per year in the capital.