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Tuesday brought citizens of the world's most polluted city found themselves breathing severely hazardous air that fell into the "critical" category.

Extremely High Pollution Readings

Several parts of Delhi recorded an pollution measurement exceeding 500, which represents ten times the safe threshold recommended by the WHO.

Particular areas, levels of dangerous airborne particles hit highs of 1,800, equating to 15 to 20 times exceeding healthy standards.

Fireworks Restrictions and New Policy Shifts

For the past four years, authorities had enforced a total prohibition on the distribution and bursting of firecrackers during the Festival of Lights due to their substantial impact to the dangerous smog that blankets the city as the cold season approaches.

However in recent months, the newly elected regional government approached the judicial authority to seek a relaxation of the restrictions.

They proposed allowing "eco-friendly fireworks" – which have been doubted by environmentalists as being only roughly 30 percent lower impact – as a compromise between "heritage and ecological concerns".

Court Ruling and Reality

Despite concerns of public health and environmental advocates, the court approved the request, stipulating that environmentally conscious fireworks could be ignited during limited time windows throughout the celebrations.

Throughout the festival evening, there was considerable violation of the regulated periods across the capital, with insufficient monitoring regarding whether the pyrotechnics being used were actually the eco-friendly type.

Numerous monitoring devices throughout the city recorded air quality spiking around late evening to the most severe readings seen during Diwali in at least recent memory.

Cross-Border Implications

The widespread use of fireworks during the celebrations also triggered a controversy with adjacent Pakistan, with representatives in Pakistan's Punjab pointing to declining air quality in their urban centers on hazardous particles coming from across the border following the events.

Long-Standing Environmental Issue

Extremely elevated levels of air contamination in the city have continued as a significant issue for more than 15 years, with the problem continuing to worsen.

Near celebratory seasons, the levels of hazardous particles in the environment has been documented to spike to 70% higher the worst records ever measured in the Chinese city, which was once viewed as the world's most polluted urban center.

Multiple Pollution Contributors

The situation in Delhi is attributed to a convergence of different contributors including automobile exhaust, dust, building projects, garbage fires and haze from crop residue ignition in nearby areas of farming communities.

Throughout these areas, farmers illegally burn crop residue to prepare for next season, producing hazardous haze that then gets trapped over the capital as colder air descends.

Public Health and Financial Impact

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

These hazardous conditions causes increased incidence of neurological, cardiovascular and breathing diseases, and can potentially cause cancer.

Air quality crisis is calculated to be responsible for 10,000 premature fatalities each year in Delhi.