🔗 Share this article The megacity Wakes Up to Dangerous Haze Post Festival of Lights As Tuesday dawned inhabitants of the world's most polluted city found themselves breathing dangerously toxic air that was classified as the "critical" level. Record-Breaking Pollution Measurements Multiple areas of the capital recorded an AQI above 500, which translates to ten times the safe level established by the global health authority. In some locations, readings of dangerous airborne particles reached peaks of 1800, equating to fifteen to twenty times above safe levels. Pyrotechnics Prohibition and Current Developments For the past four years, authorities had implemented a total prohibition on the distribution and bursting of pyrotechnics during the Festival of Lights due to their significant contribution to the deadly smog that engulfs the metropolis as the cold season begins. Yet in recent months, the current local leadership petitioned the highest court to propose a easing of the ban. They proposed allowing "environmentally conscious pyrotechnics" – previously criticized by environmentalists as being only about 30% lower impact – as a compromise between "cultural practices and environment". Legal Ruling and Implementation Much to the frustration of public health and environmental activists, judges approved the appeal, stipulating that environmentally conscious fireworks could be ignited during limited hours throughout the celebrations. Throughout the festival evening, there was extensive disregard of the regulated periods across the capital, with insufficient enforcement regarding whether the firecrackers being used were actually the more environmentally friendly type. Several monitoring devices throughout Delhi registered contamination reaching highest levels around the night hours to some of the worst levels observed during Diwali in at least recent memory. Regional Consequences The proliferation of pyrotechnics during Diwali also sparked a dispute with neighbouring the neighboring country, with representatives in Pakistan's Punjab province pointing to deteriorating atmospheric conditions in the city of Lahore on contaminants coming from neighboring India following the festivities. Chronic Pollution Issue Extremely elevated levels of atmospheric toxins in Delhi have continued as a major challenge for more than 15 years, with the situation showing no improvement. During the festival period, the levels of toxic airborne contaminants in the air has been documented to spike to seventy percent above the most severe records ever recorded in the Chinese city, which was formerly regarded as the world's most polluted urban center. Various Contamination Contributors The situation in the city is caused by a combination of different contributors including automobile exhaust, airborne particles, construction activities, rubbish burning and smoke from farm burning in nearby regions of Punjab and Haryana. In these regions, agricultural workers illegally set their fields on fire to prepare for next season, producing dangerous haze that becomes contained over the capital as colder air arrives. Health and Economic Impact Both financial and medical consequences on the roughly thirty-three million people residing in the Delhi area is enormous, according to various investigations. The contaminated air leads to elevated rates of neurological, heart and circulatory and breathing conditions, and can result in malignancies. Air quality crisis is projected to be responsible for 10,000 untimely deaths per year in Delhi.