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Tuesday brought citizens of the planet's dirtiest urban center were faced with exposed to extremely polluted air that fell into the "severe" category.

Extremely High Air Quality Measurements

Various sections of the city recorded an AQI exceeding 500, which represents 10x the safe limit set by the global health authority.

Particular areas, concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 hit highs of 1,800, representing 15 to 20 times exceeding healthy limits.

Firecracker Ban and Recent Changes

Since 2020, authorities had enforced a total prohibition on the distribution and bursting of fireworks during Diwali due to their significant contribution to the dangerous smog that covers the city as the cold season begins.

Nevertheless earlier this year, the current regional administration petitioned the judicial authority to seek a easing of the restrictions.

The suggestion was allowing "green crackers" – historically questioned by environmental experts as being only about 30% less polluting – as a compromise between "cultural practices and environment".

Legal Decision and Enforcement

To the disappointment of public health and environmental advocates, the court approved the proposal, specifying that eco-friendly pyrotechnics could be used during limited periods throughout the festival.

During the celebrations, there was widespread flouting of the designated hours across the capital, with little enforcement regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the more environmentally friendly type.

Several monitoring devices throughout the city showed contamination reaching highest levels around the night hours to some of the worst levels recorded during the festival in at least three years.

International Implications

Extensive ignition of pyrotechnics during Diwali also triggered a dispute with bordering the neighboring country, with authorities in Pakistan's Punjab pointing to deteriorating atmospheric conditions in the city of Lahore on hazardous particles coming from across the border following the festivities.

Persistent Pollution Crisis

Alarmingly severe levels of pollution in the city have remained as a serious challenge for more than 15 years, with the situation continuing to worsen.

During Diwali, the amount of dangerous particles in the air has been observed to shoot up to 70% higher the worst records ever recorded in Beijing, which was formerly viewed as the globally most contaminated metropolis.

Multiple Contamination Factors

The problem in the city is caused by a combination of various sources including heavy vehicle emissions, airborne particles, construction activities, waste incineration and pollutants from farm burning in adjacent states of farming communities.

In these regions, rural residents regularly burn crop residue to clear them quickly, creating dangerous haze that becomes contained over the capital as cooler air descends.

Medical and Financial Impact

Public health and economic toll on the nearly 33 million inhabitants living in the capital region is enormous, according to various studies.

These hazardous conditions causes elevated rates of nervous system, cardiovascular and breathing conditions, and can potentially cause malignancies.

The pollution is estimated to be accounting for ten thousand untimely fatalities each year in the capital.