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As Tuesday dawned citizens of this heavily contaminated metropolis were faced with exposed to dangerously toxic air that was classified as the "alarming" level.

Record-Breaking Pollution Levels

Multiple areas of the city recorded an AQI exceeding 500, which translates to 10x the safe threshold established by the WHO.

Particular areas, levels of dangerous airborne particles reached peaks of 1,800, equating to fifteen to twenty times higher than healthy standards.

Firecracker Prohibition and Current Developments

For the past four years, officials had implemented a comprehensive restriction on the purchase and ignition of firecrackers during celebrations due to their major role to the dangerous pollution that engulfs the city as colder weather begins.

Nevertheless in recent months, the current local administration approached the supreme court to propose a easing of the prohibition.

The suggestion was allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – previously questioned by conservation groups as being only approximately one-third lower impact – as a middle ground between "heritage and environment".

Legal Verdict and Implementation

Despite concerns of environmental and health campaigners, the court approved the proposal, mandating that green firecrackers could be ignited during limited time windows throughout the festival.

During the celebrations, there was considerable violation of the regulated periods across the capital, with insufficient regulation regarding whether the fireworks being used were actually the more environmentally friendly type.

Several recording stations throughout Delhi registered contamination peaking around late evening to some of the worst levels observed during celebrations in at least recent memory.

Regional Consequences

The proliferation of fireworks during Diwali also initiated a controversy with bordering Pakistan, with representatives in Pakistani the Punjab region partially attributing deteriorating atmospheric conditions in Lahore on pollutants traveling from neighboring India following the celebrations.

Long-Standing Environmental Crisis

Alarmingly severe levels of pollution in the capital have persisted as a major problem for more than 15 years, with the problem gradually deteriorating.

Near celebratory seasons, the amount of hazardous particulate matter in the atmosphere has been found to shoot up to significantly exceeding the most severe readings ever measured in China's capital, which was once considered as the globally most contaminated metropolis.

Various Pollution Contributors

The situation in the city is attributed to a combination of different contributors including transportation pollution, construction debris, construction activities, garbage fires and haze from farm burning in adjacent states of farming communities.

In these regions, rural residents routinely ignite agricultural waste to clear them quickly, producing hazardous pollution that becomes contained over the city as cooler air sets in.

Medical and Financial Impact

Both financial and medical toll on the approximately 33 million people residing in the Delhi area is substantial, according to multiple research.

This pollution causes elevated rates of nervous system, heart and circulatory and respiratory disorders, and can potentially cause cancer.

Air quality crisis is estimated to be causing 10,000 premature deaths per year in the capital.