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On Tuesday morning residents of the planet's dirtiest urban center were faced with exposed to extremely polluted air that registered in the "severe" level.

Record-Breaking Pollution Readings

Several parts of the capital registered an AQI above 500, which equals ten times the recommended limit recommended by the WHO.

In some locations, readings of PM2.5 and PM10 hit highs of 1800, representing 15-20x higher than safe limits.

Firecracker Restrictions and Recent Developments

For the past four years, the government had enforced a comprehensive restriction on the sale and use of fireworks during Diwali due to their major role to the deadly smog that blankets the capital as the cold season approaches.

However recently, the recently formed city administration petitioned the highest court to seek a easing of the restrictions.

The suggestion was allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – historically questioned by environmental experts as being only about 30% reduced emissions – as a compromise between "heritage and public health".

Judicial Ruling and Reality

Much to the frustration of environmental and health advocates, judicial authorities approved the appeal, specifying that environmentally conscious fireworks could be set off during specific hours throughout the festival.

Throughout the festival evening, there was extensive violation of the designated hours across the metropolis, with minimal enforcement regarding whether the fireworks being used were actually the supposedly greener type.

Several monitoring devices throughout Delhi showed air quality peaking around midnight to the most severe levels observed during Diwali in at least the past three years.

Cross-Border Implications

Extensive ignition of firecrackers during the celebrations also initiated a dispute with neighbouring Pakistan, with representatives in Pakistani Punjab partially attributing declining pollution levels in the city of Lahore on contaminants originating in India following the celebrations.

Chronic Environmental Problem

Alarmingly severe readings of pollution in the city have remained as a significant issue for over a decade and a half, with the condition showing no improvement.

Near celebratory seasons, the levels of toxic particles in the air has been observed to shoot up to seventy percent above the worst levels ever measured in the Chinese city, which was once considered as the world's most polluted metropolis.

Various Pollution Sources

The problem in the city is resulting from a convergence of different contributors including heavy vehicle emissions, construction debris, building projects, garbage fires and smoke from agricultural fires in neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana.

Throughout these areas, farmers routinely ignite agricultural waste to expedite field preparation, producing dangerous pollution that becomes contained over the metropolitan area as cooler air sets in.

Medical and Financial Consequences

Both financial and medical impact on the approximately 33 million inhabitants residing in the metropolitan zone is significant, according to numerous investigations.

These hazardous conditions results in high levels of neurological, cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and can potentially cause oncological diseases.

Environmental contamination is projected to be accounting for ten thousand premature mortalities annually in the city.