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On Tuesday morning citizens of the planet's dirtiest urban center encountered inhaling dangerously toxic air that fell into the "alarming" category.

Alarming Pollution Measurements

Various sections of the capital registered an air quality index exceeding 500, which translates to a tenfold increase over the safe threshold set by the WHO.

Certain monitoring stations, readings of dangerous airborne particles hit highs of 1,800, equating to 15 to 20 times higher than safe standards.

Pyrotechnics Prohibition and New Policy Shifts

Since 2020, officials had maintained a comprehensive restriction on the sale and use of firecrackers during the Festival of Lights due to their substantial impact to the hazardous pollution that engulfs the metropolis as colder weather begins.

Yet recently, the recently formed regional administration appealed to the supreme court to request a modification of the restrictions.

The suggestion was allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – which have been doubted by environmental experts as being only about 30% reduced emissions – as a balance between "tradition and ecological concerns".

Judicial Verdict and Enforcement

Much to the frustration of environmental and health campaigners, judges agreed to the proposal, stipulating that eco-friendly pyrotechnics could be ignited during specific hours throughout the celebrations.

Throughout the festival evening, there was widespread violation of the time restrictions across the capital, with minimal enforcement regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the more environmentally friendly type.

Many recording stations throughout the capital recorded contamination spiking around late evening to some of the worst measurements recorded during celebrations in at least three years.

Regional Effects

The widespread use of pyrotechnics during the festival also triggered a blame game with neighbouring Pakistan, with representatives in Pakistan's Punjab pointing to deteriorating atmospheric conditions in their urban centers on contaminants originating in across the border following the events.

Long-Standing Environmental Issue

The dangerously high levels of air contamination in the capital have continued as a serious issue for over a decade and a half, with the condition showing no improvement.

During Diwali, the concentration of hazardous particulate matter in the air has been documented to shoot up to significantly exceeding the peak levels ever documented in China's capital, which was previously regarded as the planet's dirtiest city.

Multiple Contamination Sources

The situation in the capital is attributed to a convergence of multiple factors including heavy vehicle emissions, dust, building projects, rubbish burning and haze from farm burning in nearby regions of farming communities.

Within these states, farmers routinely burn crop residue to expedite field preparation, producing hazardous smog that remains stagnant over the city as cooler air arrives.

Medical and Economic Consequences

Public health and economic toll on the approximately 33 million people residing in the metropolitan zone is enormous, according to numerous studies.

These hazardous conditions causes elevated rates of nervous system, cardiovascular and breathing disorders, and can result in cancer.

The pollution is estimated to be responsible for approximately 10k premature mortalities annually in Delhi.