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As Tuesday dawned residents of this heavily contaminated metropolis were faced with inhaling severely hazardous air that fell into the "alarming" range.

Extremely High Pollution Measurements

Multiple areas of the capital showed an pollution measurement above 500, which represents 10x the safe level set by the global health authority.

In some locations, concentrations of toxic particulate matter hit highs of 1,800, amounting to fifteen to twenty times above healthy levels.

Fireworks Restrictions and Current Policy Shifts

Beginning in 2020, officials had maintained a comprehensive restriction on the sale and use of fireworks during celebrations due to their substantial impact to the hazardous haze that engulfs the capital as the cold season begins.

Nevertheless recently, the recently formed local administration petitioned the judicial authority to request a relaxation of the prohibition.

They proposed allowing "green crackers" – previously questioned by environmentalists as being only roughly 30 percent lower impact – as a balance between "heritage and public health".

Judicial Decision and Enforcement

Much to the frustration of public health and environmental advocates, judicial authorities agreed to the appeal, stipulating that environmentally conscious fireworks could be used during limited time windows throughout the Diwali.

During the celebrations, there was extensive flouting of the regulated periods across the capital, with insufficient monitoring regarding whether the fireworks being used were actually the supposedly greener variety.

Several recording stations throughout the capital recorded air quality peaking around the night hours to some of the worst levels seen during Diwali in at least three years.

International Consequences

The widespread use of pyrotechnics during the festival also sparked a blame game with neighbouring Pakistan, with authorities in Pakistan's Punjab pointing to deteriorating pollution levels in their urban centers on hazardous particles originating in India following the events.

Chronic Environmental Problem

Alarmingly severe concentrations of atmospheric toxins in the capital have persisted as a major issue for more than 15 years, with the problem continuing to worsen.

Around the festival period, the levels of dangerous airborne contaminants in the environment has been found to spike to significantly exceeding the worst records ever measured in the Chinese city, which was once considered as the world's most polluted city.

Various Pollution Sources

The problem in the city is caused by a convergence of different contributors including automobile exhaust, airborne particles, building projects, waste incineration and pollutants from crop residue ignition in neighbouring regions of Punjab and Haryana.

Within these states, rural residents illegally burn crop residue to expedite field preparation, producing toxic pollution that remains stagnant over the city as colder air arrives.

Medical and Financial Toll

Both financial and medical toll on the approximately 33 million inhabitants calling home the metropolitan zone is substantial, according to numerous investigations.

The contaminated air leads to elevated rates of nervous system, heart and circulatory and respiratory disorders, and can result in oncological diseases.

Environmental contamination is projected to be responsible for 10,000 early deaths per year in the city.