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Tuesday brought residents of the planet's dirtiest urban center found themselves breathing dangerously toxic air that fell into the "critical" category.

Extremely High Pollution Readings

Various sections of the capital recorded an air quality index over 500, which translates to a tenfold increase over the healthy threshold set by the global health authority.

In some locations, concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 soared to of 1,800, representing 15-20x higher than safe levels.

Firecracker Prohibition and Current Changes

For the past four years, authorities had enforced a complete ban on the purchase and ignition of pyrotechnics during Diwali due to their major role to the hazardous haze that engulfs the metropolis as colder weather approaches.

Nevertheless in recent months, the current regional administration petitioned the supreme court to propose a easing of the restrictions.

The suggestion was allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – previously doubted by environmentalists as being only about 30% less polluting – as a balance between "heritage and ecological concerns".

Judicial Decision and Enforcement

To the disappointment of environmental and health activists, judicial authorities complied with the appeal, specifying that eco-friendly pyrotechnics could be ignited during designated periods throughout the Diwali.

During the celebrations, there was considerable flouting of the time restrictions across the capital, with little regulation regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the more environmentally friendly type.

Numerous recording stations throughout the capital showed pollution peaking around midnight to the most severe measurements observed during the festival in at least three years.

Regional Effects

Extensive ignition of fireworks during the festival also triggered a dispute with adjacent Pakistan, with representatives in Pakistan's the Punjab region pointing to worsening atmospheric conditions in the city of Lahore on contaminants originating in across the border following the celebrations.

Persistent Environmental Crisis

Alarmingly severe concentrations of air contamination in the capital have continued as a significant challenge for more than 15 years, with the condition showing no improvement.

Near celebratory seasons, the amount of dangerous particulate matter in the atmosphere has been documented to increase dramatically to significantly exceeding the peak records ever documented in Beijing, which was once considered as the globally most contaminated urban center.

Multiple Contamination Sources

The problem in the city is caused by a combination of different contributors including heavy vehicle emissions, construction debris, construction activities, garbage fires and haze from crop residue ignition in neighbouring states of neighboring agricultural zones.

In these regions, agricultural workers illegally set their fields on fire to clear them quickly, producing hazardous pollution that becomes contained over the metropolitan area as colder air descends.

Medical and Financial Toll

The economic and health consequences on the nearly 33 million people residing in the capital region is substantial, according to numerous studies.

The contaminated air causes increased incidence of nervous system, cardiovascular and breathing conditions, and can potentially cause malignancies.

The pollution is estimated to be responsible for ten thousand untimely mortalities annually in the capital.