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As Tuesday dawned inhabitants of the planet's dirtiest urban center were faced with exposed to extremely polluted air that was classified as the "critical" category.

Record-Breaking Pollution Levels

Various sections of the city recorded an air quality index exceeding 500, which equals ten times the healthy threshold set by the World Health Organization.

Particular areas, concentrations of toxic particulate matter reached peaks of 1,800, amounting to fifteen to twenty times higher than acceptable limits.

Firecracker Prohibition and Current Changes

For the past four years, authorities had implemented a complete ban on the distribution and bursting of pyrotechnics during Diwali due to their major role to the hazardous haze that covers the city as colder weather approaches.

Yet earlier this year, the newly elected city leadership petitioned the judicial authority to seek a modification of the prohibition.

Officials advocated for allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – which have been doubted by environmental experts as being only about 30% reduced emissions – as a balance between "tradition and public health".

Court Ruling and Reality

Despite concerns of public health and environmental advocates, judges approved the proposal, stipulating that eco-friendly pyrotechnics could be ignited during limited hours throughout the festival.

Throughout the festival evening, there was considerable violation of the designated hours across the city, with insufficient monitoring regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the eco-friendly variety.

Several recording stations throughout Delhi registered pollution reaching highest levels around the night hours to some of the worst readings observed during celebrations in at least three years.

Cross-Border Consequences

The widespread use of firecrackers during the festival also triggered a blame game with bordering Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistan's Punjab partially attributing worsening atmospheric conditions in the city of Lahore on contaminants originating in India following the celebrations.

Long-Standing Environmental Problem

Extremely elevated concentrations of pollution in the city have remained as a significant issue for more than 15 years, with the condition continuing to worsen.

Near Diwali, the concentration of hazardous airborne contaminants in the air has been documented to shoot up to 70% higher the most severe records ever documented in Beijing, which was once viewed as the world's most polluted urban center.

Various Pollution Factors

This crisis in the city is attributed to a mix of different contributors including automobile exhaust, construction debris, construction activities, waste incineration and haze from crop residue ignition in nearby areas of neighboring agricultural zones.

Within these states, farmers routinely burn crop residue to prepare for next season, creating hazardous smog that becomes contained over the capital as cooler air descends.

Medical and Financial Toll

Both financial and medical toll on the approximately 33 million residents residing in the capital region is significant, according to various studies.

The contaminated air leads to increased incidence of neurological, heart and circulatory and lung disorders, and can potentially cause cancer.

Air quality crisis is estimated to be accounting for 10,000 premature deaths per year in Delhi.