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On Tuesday morning inhabitants of the world's most polluted city were faced with inhaling extremely polluted air that was classified as the "alarming" level.

Record-Breaking Air Quality Measurements

Several parts of Delhi recorded an AQI above 500, which represents a tenfold increase over the recommended threshold established by the World Health Organization.

Certain monitoring stations, readings of toxic particulate matter reached peaks of 1800, representing 15 to 20 times above safe levels.

Fireworks Prohibition and Current Policy Shifts

For the past four years, the government had enforced a complete ban on the sale and use of fireworks during the Festival of Lights due to their substantial impact to the hazardous smog that blankets the capital as winter sets in.

Nevertheless recently, the current local administration appealed to the highest court to request a easing of the ban.

The suggestion was allowing "green crackers" – previously doubted by environmentalists as being only about 30% less polluting – as a balance between "heritage and environment".

Court Decision and Implementation

Despite concerns of environmental and health campaigners, the court agreed to the request, mandating that green firecrackers could be used during limited time windows throughout the festival.

On Monday night, there was extensive violation of the time restrictions across the metropolis, with insufficient enforcement regarding whether the fireworks being used were actually the more environmentally friendly type.

Many air quality sensors throughout Delhi recorded contamination reaching highest levels around late evening to the most severe levels recorded during celebrations in at least three years.

Regional Effects

The widespread use of fireworks during the celebrations also triggered a blame game with adjacent Pakistan, with representatives in Pakistan's Punjab partially attributing worsening pollution levels in Lahore on pollutants traveling from India following the celebrations.

Chronic Pollution Issue

Alarmingly severe readings of atmospheric toxins in the city have persisted as a major problem for more than 15 years, with the condition showing no improvement.

Around celebratory seasons, the amount of dangerous particulate matter in the air has been observed to shoot up to seventy percent above the most severe records ever documented in China's capital, which was formerly viewed as the world's most polluted city.

Multiple Contamination Contributors

The problem in the capital is resulting from a mix of different contributors including transportation pollution, airborne particles, building projects, waste incineration and haze from crop residue ignition in nearby regions of Punjab and Haryana.

Within these states, rural residents regularly ignite agricultural waste to expedite field preparation, creating hazardous pollution that becomes contained over the capital as cooler air descends.

Medical and Economic Consequences

Public health and economic toll on the nearly 33 million residents living in the metropolitan zone is substantial, according to multiple research.

This pollution results in elevated rates of neurological, heart and circulatory and lung disorders, and can potentially cause cancer.

Environmental contamination is estimated to be causing ten thousand premature fatalities annually in the capital.