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Tuesday brought inhabitants of the planet's dirtiest urban center found themselves inhaling severely hazardous air that was classified as the "alarming" level.

Extremely High Pollution Readings

Several parts of the city registered an pollution measurement above 500, which equals ten times the healthy threshold established by the global health authority.

In some locations, concentrations of toxic particulate matter hit highs of 1800, representing 15 to 20 times higher than acceptable levels.

Firecracker Prohibition and Recent Developments

For the past four years, the government had enforced a total prohibition on the purchase and ignition of fireworks during Diwali due to their substantial impact to the hazardous pollution that covers the metropolis as colder weather approaches.

Nevertheless recently, the newly elected local administration approached the highest court to propose a easing of the prohibition.

The suggestion was allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – which have been questioned by conservation groups as being only roughly 30 percent less polluting – as a middle ground between "tradition and ecological concerns".

Judicial Ruling and Enforcement

Much to the frustration of environmental and health activists, judicial authorities agreed to the request, mandating that environmentally conscious fireworks could be set off during specific time windows throughout the celebrations.

On Monday night, there was extensive flouting of the time restrictions across the city, with insufficient regulation regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the more environmentally friendly version.

Several air quality sensors throughout the city recorded contamination spiking around late evening to some of the worst measurements observed during the festival in at least recent memory.

International Implications

Extensive ignition of firecrackers during the celebrations also sparked a blame game with neighbouring the neighboring country, with authorities in Pakistani Punjab pointing to worsening pollution levels in the city of Lahore on pollutants coming from India following the celebrations.

Persistent Pollution Problem

Alarmingly severe readings of pollution in Delhi have persisted as a significant issue for over a decade and a half, with the problem showing no improvement.

Around Diwali, the levels of hazardous airborne contaminants in the atmosphere has been documented to increase dramatically to 70% higher the most severe readings ever documented in Beijing, which was once considered as the globally most contaminated urban center.

Various Pollution Factors

The situation in Delhi is resulting from a convergence of different contributors including heavy vehicle emissions, airborne particles, development work, garbage fires and smoke from farm burning in neighbouring states of neighboring agricultural zones.

Within these states, agricultural workers illegally set their fields on fire to expedite field preparation, generating hazardous pollution that remains stagnant over the capital as colder air sets in.

Medical and Financial Impact

Both financial and medical toll on the roughly thirty-three million inhabitants living in the capital region is substantial, according to various investigations.

This pollution results in increased incidence of nervous system, heart and circulatory and lung diseases, and can even lead to cancer.

The pollution is projected to be responsible for 10,000 untimely mortalities per year in the city.